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Following is the full text of the speech delivered by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the 85th Anniversary Reception of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association this (Thursday) afternoon:

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to attend the 85th Anniversary Reception of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association, which is a staff union with the longest history and the largest membership within the civil service. Over the years, it has been playing an important role in the promotion of effective communication between the management and the staff sides. As Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, the Association has made a great contribution to maintaining the morale of the civil service to ensure a smooth and successful transition of Hong Kong.

Since the announcement of the proposed civil service reform in March this year, members of all civil service unions and bodies have been very active in joining discussions and voicing their opinions. First of all, I have to stress that we have an excellent team of civil servants, whom all the people of Hong Kong should take pride in. With the approach of the 21st Century and a rapidly changing external environment, we are undergoing a difficult process of economic recovery. It is indeed essential that the civil service keeps pace with the community it serves, improves itself and enhances its efficiency so that services of better quality can be made available to the community. I am glad to know, and I was happy to hear from Ms SO just now, that the civil service unions, including the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association, are generally supportive of the objectives of the proposed reform. I would like to stress again that in the reform, we shall uphold six primary principles: we shall change amidst stability; we shall reform step by step; we shall take a comprehensive overview; we shall hold wide consultation; we shall adopt practicable measures; and we shall ensure that the reform is reasonable and lawful. In the implementation of the necessary reforms, we will put special emphasis on the introduction of changes amidst stability, the step-by-step implementation of reforms and the reasonableness and lawfulness of reforms.

Civil service reform is of course a complicated process with far-reaching impact. We are aware of the fact that while showing their support, some unions have reservations about certain proposals in the reform and put forward much opinions. Such responses reflect positively the wholesome and healthy development of our community. The Secretary for the Civil Service has assured me that the management will definitely consider and study carefully all the opinions that have been put forward to us and hold further consultation with staff representatives and our colleagues before making any decision on further detailed proposals. I hope that members of the staff unions and our colleagues will continue to put forward their views and take part in discussions actively so that we may work out practical and feasible proposals with concerted efforts.

Over the past two months, while members of the unions and our colleagues have expressed different views on the reform proposals, you remain committed to your work as usual and provide services for the community with a high level of efficiency. I am confident that in the days to come, you will uphold the principle of serving the community and remain positive in your work to cope with changes to ensure the delivery of more efficient and effective service.

Lastly, I wish the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association every success in future endeavours and everyone of you excellent health and all the best. Thank you very much.

Photo: Photo shows Mr Tung and other officiating guests performing a cake-cutting ceremony at the reception.

End/Thursday, June 3, 1999

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