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The Information Services Department has looked into a report in the Apple Daily on June 8 regarding a civil servant and a non-civil service contract officer and came to the following conclusion after having consulted the Civil Service Bureau.
Having looked into the matter, the Department noted that the civil servant did not attend the meeting referred to in the press report, had not heard of the website mentioned, and had not participated in any electioneering activities. The Department is of the view that the civil servant has not breached any civil service guidelines and regulations.
As regards the non-civil service contract officer, the Department has learned that the officer had participated in exchange activities not related to her duties outside office hours and in a private capacity. The Department is of the view that there is no conflict of interest between the officer's participation in such activities and the officer's official duties. Moreover, these activities did not constitute outside work. The officer received no remuneration and no government resources were involved. Based on these considerations, the Department is of the view that the officer has not breached any civil service guidelines or regulations.
According to civil service guidelines, four groups of civil servants - Directorate Officers, all Administrative Officers, all Information Officers and all disciplined officers of the Police Force - are prohibited from participating in any electioneering activities. As to other civil servants and non-civil service contract officers, there is no objection in principle to their taking part in electioneering activities in a private capacity provided that it does not give rise to any conflict of interest with their official duties.
The Information Services Department has earlier issued a press release stating that the Department did not send any representatives to attend the meeting mentioned in the press report.
Ends/Monday, June 27, 2011
Issued at HKT 21:32
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