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Disagreeing with Hong Kong government won’t be tolerated under civil service oath

蘋果日報 2020/12/30 20:50


Disagreeing with Hong Kong government won’t be tolerated under civil service oath
Civil servants in Hong Kong may be deemed to have violated an oath they are about to take if the opinions they express in public are contrary to the government’s position, an official document obtained from one of the staff unions shows.
In the new year, the entire 180,000-strong workforce in the civil service will be asked to swear to uphold the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law. They will also have to pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, to be dedicated to their duties and to be responsible to the government, according to a consultation paper sent by the Civil Service Bureau to the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ Association.
A preview of the declaration document accompanying the bureau’s paper reveals details of what will constitute a violation of the content of the declaration. Four types of behaviors are listed that will classify people as not genuinely upholding the Basic Law or bearing allegiance to the Hong Kong government, similar to “restricted areas” found in national security laws passed in the summer.
Those behaviors involve advocacy or support of Hong Kong independence, refusal to recognise China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong and the exercise of the sovereignty, solicitation of intervention by foreign or external forces in Hong Kong’s affairs, and the carrying out of other activities that endanger national security.
In terms of being “dedicated to their duties and responsible to the government,” the preview document stipulates that public servants must abide by the law.
Committing a severe breach can be deemed to have infringed the oath or the declaration. Examples of such breaches include disrupting society and public safety with violent behavior, undermining the ability and reputation of law enforcers by unlawful means, advocating violation of the law, joining any groups or activities that are aimed at undermining the governance of the Hong Kong administration, and any other behaviors which incite social sentiment against the administration or stir up unrest in society.
The grip is tightening on civil servants as some of them joined and organized activities during anti-extradition bill protests last year, and issued statements to express objection to the legislative amendments. Some were arrested during the protests.
The new document shows that the government is targeting to restrict such conduct.
Civil servants are considered to have broken their oath if, in the performance of their public duties, they are influenced by their personal political beliefs or political affiliations, publicly voice opinions that run counter to the government’s position, or use public resources for political purposes.
If personal opinions or statements they have made call into question the government or their respective departments, such acts are also in breach of the oath.
Permanent secretaries, heads of department and directorate-grade civil servants swore their oaths on Dec. 18. Civil servants of other ranks must return their signed declaration forms within a month after issuance in January.
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