Deputy secretaries play "crucial role"in "one country, two systems"

The civil service is one of Hong Kong's most important assets and a force for progress to assist the people running the SAR, Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) Wang Guangya said on Tuesday.

At a meeting with top civil servants, Wang called on civil servants to help the people understand "one country, two systems", and to implement the Basic Law fully and accurately.

He also asked the top civil servants to pursue lifelong learning and read the opinions of others with an innovative mind-set.

This is the first time for an official from the central government to meet senior civil servants in Hong Kong.

Joseph Wong, former secretary for the civil service, said he believes Wang wants to offer encouragement to the civil service.

In particular, Wang attached importance to the permanent secretaries as people who have the chance to become ministers and cabinet members.

"So Wang hopes they will do better to support the governance of Hong Kong," Wong commented.

Political scientist Sung Lap-kung from the City University of Hong Kong, called the meeting one of the highlights of Wang's visit.

"He affirmed the civil service as the core of governance in Hong Kong. Without their support, future governance will in no doubt struggle," said the academic.

Sung also noted permanent secretaries often have to bear the brunt of criticism, when their superiors - the politically appointed ministers - do not perform well and suffer low popularity in opinion polls.

"His meeting with top civil servants serves as a morale booster for the entire 160,000-plus civil service, the morale of which is rather low. Wang also took the opportunity to ask the top civil servants to adopt a new mind-set by caring more about the society and be responsive to public opinions," Sung analyzed.

At his hotel, Wang met about a dozen permanent secretaries, who are second in charge of the policy bureaux and subordinate only to the politically appointed ministers over lunch.

In his remarks, he praised the civil service as well-acquainted with government operations.

He called those in public service a big asset to Hong Kong, as well as an important driving force behind "Hong Kong people running Hong Kong".

Since the handover, the civil service has never let the people down and has done its best to serve fellow citizens and contribute to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, said Wang.

He said senior civil servants should think of ways to do their jobs better, among other things, and to acquire a deeper knowledge of national affairs and the big picture of the nation's development.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/15/2011 page1)