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Following is the full text of the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at a reception he hosted at Government House today (Thursday) for representatives of the Central Staff Consultative Councils and Service-wide Civil Service Staff Unions :

I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet members of the Central Councils and the staff unions today.

In the past two years, Hong Kong has weathered through many challenges, and not the least the challenge brought about by the Asian financial turmoil. With the unfailing support of a professional, committed and honest civil service, the Administration has tackled the problems and responded swiftly to the increasing demand of the community for more and better public services.

However, we are not complacent. We should not be. We should seek every opportunity to further enhance the flexibility and responsiveness of the civil service system so that it can better meet the demand in the next century. It is for this reason that we have proposed the Civil Service Reform.

As a result of three months of consultation, we have received a wide range of views on the reform proposals. While it is natural to hear views from different perspectives, we are pleased to note that the great majority of the community support the objective of the reform to modernise the civil service management system to meet future challenges.

I fully understand that staff will feel uncertain and anxious when faced with changes. I can assure you that the Administration attaches great importance to working closely with the Staff Sides in taking the reform proposals forward.

Let me conclude by reiterating our commitment to introduce changes in a gradual and orderly manner. We treasure the stability of the civil service. I know I can count on the support and co-operation of the Staff Sides to pursue the reform for the benefit of the community.

Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, hosted a reception at Government House for representatives of the Central Staff Consultative Councils and service-wide civil service staff unions. Mr Tung expressed appreciation of the hard work and contribution of the civil service and took the opportunity to exchange views with them on the Civil Service Reform and matters of their concern.

End/Thursday, September 2, 1999

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