*********************************************************

Following is the speech by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph WP Wong, at the Secretary for the Civil Service's Commendation Awards Presentation Ceremony today (September 17):

Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to today's presentation ceremony.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government values the positive contributions made by members of our civil service. Through the Departmental Commendation Letter Scheme and the Chief Executive's Honours and Awards System, we give recognition to deserving civil servants for their exemplary performance in serving the community. Following a review and consultation with departments and staff side representatives, we have earlier this year introduced the Secretary for the Civil Service's Commendation Award Scheme. The scheme is launched to give awards to civil servants for their consistent meritorious performance in their daily work.

This is the first time we present awards under the Secretary for the Civil Service's Commendation Award Scheme. Altogether 75 civil servants from 48 grades and 37 departments will be commended on this occasion.

In extending my warmest congratulations to all the awardees, I wish to express my appreciation of their sterling contribution towards the well-being of Government, their departments and above all the community.

I should perhaps stress that not only would meritorious performance be given due recognition under the existing commendation schemes, it is a key qualifying criterion when we are selecting eligible officers for promotion. In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that in the first eight months this year, a total of 1,087 officers in 93 grades have been promoted. In the coming months, several hundred officers will receive their promotion letters as the departmental management completes the relevant exercises. It is my sincere hope that colleagues who receive the award today will get promoted and higher remuneration in the future.

Later this afternoon, the Chief Executive will join us at the cocktail reception as a testimony of his appreciation of the meritorious service that the awardees have put in.

May I once again pay tribute to the awardees for their commendable performance.

Thank you.

Ends/Friday, September 17, 2004

NNNN