The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Civil Service Training and Development Institute (CSTDI) today (April 29) to learn more about its promotion of civil servants' participation in national studies training, development of the Cyber Learning Centre Plus (CLC Plus), and the progress on the Civil Service College project.
 
     Accompanied by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, Mr Cheung first received a briefing by colleagues from the CSTDI on the national studies training offered to civil servants. He expressed appreciation for the Institute's provision of online seminars and learning resources on national studies, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the Basic Law and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) through CLC Plus. The CSTDI also collaborated with Tsinghua University to launch "Tsinghua Lecture", which provided a series of video-recorded lectures to introduce national policies and the country's latest developments.
 
     Mr Cheung said that the Government attaches great importance to civil service training, especially the enhanced training on the Basic Law and the National Security Law in recent years for civil servants to gain a correct understanding of the National Security Law and an enhanced awareness of safeguarding national security. He encouraged civil servants of various ranks to optimise the learning resources provided by the CSTDI for self-enhancement and sharpen their leadership and management skills.
 
     To ensure that newly recruited civil servants have an accurate understanding of the constitutional order established under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law, the CSTDI arranges for all new appointees to the civil service to receive basic training on the Basic Law within three years after joining the Government. The goal is to train approximately 10 000 new appointees to the civil service each year. The CSTDI also organises foundation courses on national affairs for them to deepen their understanding of national development and their sense of national identity.
 
     To strengthen training on the National Security Law, the CSTDI invited authoritative experts from the Mainland in particular to explain topics related to the Basic Law and the National Security Law, and these talks were recorded on video and uploaded to CLC Plus. The CSTDI has also opened a dedicated webpage on safeguarding national security on CLC Plus, which contains the full text of the National Security Law and booklet text and short videos introducing the National Security Law. The dedicated webpage has been well received by civil servants and has been viewed 150 000 times.
 
     In addition, the CSTDI has rolled out a pilot scheme to strengthen training on cultural sensitivity and equal opportunities for civil servants since 2019 in order to enhance their capability in serving people of diverse backgrounds. CLC Plus also launched a thematic website to provide useful information including video clips, case studies and administrative guidelines.
 
     Mr Cheung also learnt about the progress of preparatory work for the Civil Service College by colleagues of the Civil Services Bureau. A site in Kwun Tong that measures about 11 000 square metres has been identified for composite development, including the construction of the Civil Service College and other supporting facilities for the civil service. The completed Civil Service College will be equipped with better and more diversified facilities for civil service training, including modern information and communications technology equipment and training venues for media responses, crisis management, council meetings and more. The Civil Service College will also provide a Learning Commons comprising different learning zones to facilitate more flexible and interactive learning.
 
     Prior to its completion, the Government is upgrading the existing facilities of CSTDI at North Point Government Offices so that the premises can be used as interim accommodation of the College to tie in with the plan to establish the College in 2021.
 
     Mr Cheung pointed out that apart from the hardware facilities, the Government is also committed to enhancing the training for civil servants on the software front. A Civil Service Training Advisory Board comprising professionals and government officials was set up in 2019 to give guidance on training programmes for the civil service and its long-term development strategy, and to prepare for the development of the Civil Service College.
 
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Cheung toured the facilities of the CSTDI, including the Basic Law book corner, and chatted with civil service colleagues who were participating in the Leadership in Action Programme to find out more about their learning experiences.

Ends/Thursday, April 29, 2021
Issued at HKT 17:55

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