Lawful union actions not affected by updated Civil Service Code of Conduct

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan clarified on Monday that lawful actions that align with the purpose of the civil service unions, and conform to the nature of expressing opinions, can be organized in a form and intensity that is acceptable to the public, which will not be affected by the updated Civil Service Code of Conduct.

The Hong Kong Civil Service Bureau previously issued a draft of proposed amendments to the Civil Service Code for public consultation.  

Yeung said the changes aim to provide more precise guidance for civil servants following some past instances of conduct straying from core values.  

Yeung explained that while the vast majority of public servants uphold exacting standards, a small number may have misunderstood or fallen short of meeting the spirit of the existing Code.

"Authorities believe developing a more comprehensive set of principles is needed to serve as an ethical guide for civil servants' daily work and decision-making," she added.  

One new emphasis of the amended Code will be on the values of "Loyalty, Dedication and Integrity," as summarized on the consultation draft cover. The civil service chief stressed that these capture the essence of expectations for civil servants under the updated guidelines.  

Some concerns have been raised that the changes could infringe on workers' rights. Lawmaker Chau Siu-chung of the Labour constituency noted potential conflicts if the Civil Servants Union disagrees with government proposals like salary adjustments. However, Yeung maintained that the Code would not restrict lawful, reasonable expression of viewpoints or organizing activities consistent with a union's objectives.

Public feedback will be accepted on the draft amendments before finalization. The government aims to provide unambiguous guidance upholding core responsibilities and values across the civil service through a revised Code of Conduct, Yeung added.