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Following is the speech by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph W P Wong, at the Third Inauguration Ceremony of the Executive Committee of the Government Disciplined Services General Union today (April 12):
Mr Wong, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be here to attend the third inauguration ceremony of the Executive Committee of the Government Disciplined Services General Union (GDSGU).
The disciplined services, which are the cornerstone for maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, have made significant contribution to the community. Take, for example, members of the GDSGU. Amongst their many duties, the Immigration Department is responsible for immigration control and the effective management of one of the world's busiest land boundary crossings; the Government Flying Service provides airborne emergency, search and rescue services; the Customs and Excise Department endeavours to crack down on smuggling and drug trafficking activities, and to protect intellectual property rights and consumer interests; the Fire Services Department safeguards life and property from fire and other calamities, renders aid to and moves the sick and the injured to hospital; and the Correctional Services Department manages penal institutions and helps ex-offenders turn over a new leaf and reintegrate into society.
Colleagues from the disciplined services shoulder the responsibilities of maintaining law and order and helping those in distress. They face all kinds of difficulties, dangers and even death in their course of duty. Yet they are committed to serving the community with unfaltering determination. Such a manifestation of professionalism has won them the admiration of the general public; and every one of us in the civil service is proud of them.
I understand that the workload of the civil service has been on the increase in recent years with the introduction of various productivity enhancing, downsizing and process re-engineering initiatives, and hence I fully appreciate colleagues' concern with this year's pay adjustment. I must, however, emphasise once again that the Government will continue to adopt the existing mechanism in deciding on this year's civil service pay adjustment. Next month when the outcome of this year's private sector pay trend survey is known, the Government will thoroughly consider all factors, including the views of the staff sides, and make a final decision. I am confident that civil servants on the whole and members of the public will support and accept the Government's final decision, so long as the staff sides and the management adhere to the principles of lawfulness, fairness and reasonableness.
I am most willing to maintain effective communication with and listen to the views of the staff side representatives in the central consultative councils, the GDSGU and other service-wide associations in respect of this year's civil service pay adjustment. In the meantime, I hope all colleagues from the disciplined services will adhere to their fine tradition of performing their duties conscientiously. We should prove to the public that we are a civil service committed to serving our fellow citizens and that we have the interests of the community at heart. We are prepared to share the burden with the rest of the community in the face of the economic downturn and shall do our part in striving for the early recovery of the economy.
I am pleased to learn that the GDSGU has been helping the poor and those students in need on the Mainland through the Fireflies (Education) Project. Many students benefit from the Project. This spirit of caring for not only our fellow citizens in Hong Kong but also our compatriots on the Mainland deserves commendation. The Civil Service Bureau would very much like to lend a helping hand if opportunity occurs.
Thank you.
End/Thursday, April 12, 2002
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