Following is a question by the Hon Hung Kam-in and a written reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (March 18): 

Question:

     There are views suggesting that the Civil Service College (CSC) has the responsibility to nurture civil servants with governance capabilities and sound political attributes to meet the Government's long-term governance needs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the specific measures taken by the CSC at present in curriculum design (for example, in the areas of policy analysis, public communication and crisis response) to provide civil servants with governance talent training;

(2) whether the CSC has adjusted the contents and direction of its training programmes in the past five years to address the changes in Hong Kong's political environment and governance challenges; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) how the CSC integrates elements of anti-corruption education, public responsibility and political ethics into its current training programmes to ensure that civil servants possess both professional competence and public credibility;

(4) as the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) and the CSC continue to arrange for trainees to attend study courses or exchange visits on the Mainland and overseas to broaden their international outlook, cross-cultural governance capabilities and understanding of the country, whether the CSB and the CSC have evaluated the effectiveness of such courses and exchange activities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) whether the CSC will consider opening certain programmes to non-civil-servant members of the public in society who aspire to participate in politics or policy discussions, and formulate specific policies or allocate additional resources to further nurture Hong Kong's governance talents?

Reply:

President,

     Civil servants are the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and shoulder major responsibilities in governance. Their mindset and ability directly impact the quality of governance of Hong Kong. The Civil Service College (CSC) is tasked with the mission of cultivating civil servants with a macro perspective and governance capabilities to support the HKSAR Government in enhancing governance efficacy. Since 2023, the CSC has adjusted its training indicators, focusing on the four areas of enhancing leadership and governance capabilities; understanding constitutional order, national development and strategies; building a people-oriented service culture; and strengthening professional competence. All training at the CSC centres on cultivating mindset, building civil servants' core values and service ethos, strengthening their identity as patriots, and promoting a people-oriented and "one government" service culture. It is pivotal for civil servants to share these common values in their mindset, which help them establish firm beliefs and motivate them to consciously shoulder their due responsibilities in complex and ever-changing political and social environments, prioritising the interests of the country and the people when formulating and implementing policies. 

     The replies to the respective parts of the question are as follows:

(1), (2) and (3)

A. Leadership Training

     The CSC plays a vital role in nurturing high-calibre governance talents. Through a diverse range of leadership development training programmes, it strives to cultivate patriotism and international perspectives among civil servants, strengthen their values of people orientation, unity and collaboration, professional excellence and innovation, and develop talents with both leadership skills and all-round capabilities for the Government.

     The CSC organises a series of flagship leadership training programmes for civil servants with potential for advancement to develop their leadership skills, holistic views and international perspectives. The relevant training covers international relations, national strategies and how Hong Kong integrates into and serves the national development, public service innovation, artificial intelligence and technology trends and applications, public engagement strategies, media and public communication strategies, leaders' character and integrity, leadership and strategic thinking, as well as the ability to drive change, manage crises and formulate decisions. These programmes include:

(a) Advanced Leadership Enhancement Programme for directorate officers (8 days)
• focuses on broadening participants' international perspectives, holistic views about our country and strategic thinking to help them support the national development strategies and the development needs of Hong Kong when formulating policies;
 
(b) Leadership In Action Programme for senior officers at Master Pay Scale Points 45-49 (3 weeks)
• focuses on strengthening participants' capabilities in leadership and strategy execution, and their ability to think from multiple perspectives for effective formulation and implementation of public policies;

(c) Innovative Leadership Programme for officers at Master Pay Scale Points 34-44 (13 days)
• focuses on enhancing participants' capabilities of promoting service innovation and keeping frontline officers abreast of the times for delivery of people-oriented services; and

(d) Leadership Essentials Programme for officers at Master Pay Scale Points 27-33 (5 days)
• focuses on enhancing participants' capabilities in team management and collaboration, and fostering the "one government" mindset in the provision of services.

     In these programmes, the CSC invites experts and scholars, senior local, national and overseas government officials, as well as industry leaders to engage in in-depth dialogues with the participants. Through case analyses from multiple perspectives, participants gain insights into the critical factors of success and failure in real-life scenarios such as policy formulation, public communication, and crisis management. The programmes include site visits to social enterprises and individuals from different social strata, helping participants understand public sentiment and better meet public needs in the formulation and implementation of public policies, thereby enhancing public trust in the government. In longer leadership programmes, participants are required to prepare thematic reports on specific public policies and present their findings, with feedback provided by seasoned officials and scholars. These programmes foster mutual trust and connections among participants from different departments, facilitating cross-departmental experience sharing and collaboration. The above leadership programmes have also incorporated more technological elements, exploring the potential and opportunities of technology application in public services, thereby equipping participants to take on leadership responsibilities, build systems, and lead departments in leveraging technology to enhance service levels.

     In addition, the CSC has organised high-level leadership seminar series, such as the Fireside Chats Series, the Executive Series on Connecting the World – ASEAN, and the Executive Series on Brokering North and South: China in a Multipolar World, in which distinguished leaders and experts from around the world were invited to explore China's influence on and contribution to the global community in a multipolar world amid the rise of the Global South, and how Hong Kong can leverage its unique role in connecting our country with the world while promoting better development of our city. The CSC also collaborates with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) in the HKSAR to organise the seminar series on the country's foreign affairs to enhance related training of civil servants and broaden their international perspectives. 

     The CSC organises seminars and learning activities in a timely manner to elaborate on the important policies and the spirit behind speeches/reports of the Central People's Government (CPG), such as the seminar on learning the spirit of the "two sessions", and the seminar on the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, enabling principal officials and civil servants to develop a more acute and profound understanding of the core essence and spirit.

B. Governance Talents Development Programme

     To help create a talent pool in the Government, the CSC launched the Governance Talents Development Programme in 2025 to nurture governance talents dedicated to serving the country and Hong Kong. The CSC has selected 40 promising middle to senior level officers as the first cohort of the programme, and will provide them with targeted and continuous training for developing shared values of patriotism with affection for the country and Hong Kong, exemplifying the people-oriented and "one government" spirit; vision and perspectives essential for navigating complex external environments and addressing societal challenges; and knowledge and competencies required for achieving good governance. 

     In addition to attendance at local, Mainland, and overseas training, the CSC will arrange for participants to engage in dialogue sessions with the governing team to discuss various social and policy issues to gain deeper insights into the governing philosophy and the rationale behind public policies, strengthening a sense of shared mission and values and fostering a cohesive leadership community within the HKSAR Government. The CSC will collaborate with renowned institutes to design customised curriculum for the programme to enhance participants' knowledge and capabilities in geopolitics and global governance, national strategies, Hong Kong's governance and development, formulation and management of public policies, and technological innovation. We have invited accomplished local, Mainland and overseas experts and scholars to serve as Fellows and provide learning guidance. Each participant is also paired with a departmental Mentor, with the departmental/grade management giving personalised attention to the participants' learning progress to facilitate self-reflection and growth.

C. Training on Values

     As mentioned above, all training provided by the CSC focuses on cultivating mindset, building core values of civil servants, and fostering a service-oriented philosophy. National identity and patriotism, the commitment and sense of mission to serve both the country and Hong Kong, the principles of people-orientation and integrity are essential elements of training for all ranks. Taking induction training as an example, all new recruits are required to complete within the probationary period a foundation training programme. Non-completion will render the officers concerned not being able to be confirmed to the permanent establishment. The foundation training programme covers the understanding of "one country, two systems", the Constitution, the Basic Law, the Hong Kong National Security Law, the national system and key policies, as well as the civil service's core values and public service culture, anti-corruption laws and system. Officers of degree or professional grades are also required to take part in advanced training upon confirmation to the permanent establishment, so as to reinforce their understanding of the constitutional order of the HKSAR and awareness of safeguarding national security. Non-completion will adversely affect the promotion prospects of the officers concerned.

     In promoting and deepening the culture of probity and integrity among civil servants, apart from the training by the CSC, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) also collaborates with the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to implement the Ethical Leadership Programme (ELP). Senior directorate officers are appointed by bureaux/departments (B/Ds) as Ethics Officers (EOs) (Note 1) to serve as an important bridge of communication with the CSB and the ICAC. On one hand, EOs assist the CSB in promoting activities in order to widely disseminate integrity messages at the B/D level, and providing valuable feedback to the CSB so that our relevant initiatives can better suit the needs of colleagues. On the other hand, these designated officers also assist, at the B/D level, in mapping out and taking forward B/D-based activities (including talks, seminars and publicity activities) with appropriate support provided by the ICAC. The CSB and the ICAC also conduct thematic workshops under the ELP every year on various topics, such as acceptance of advantages and entertainment, prudent financial management, and supervisory accountability. Additionally, the CSB also conducts regular seminars on the offence of Misconduct in Public Office for non-directorate officers every year. Frontline staff, junior, middle and senior management, as well as non-civil service government staff are invited to participate in the seminars with a view to enhancing the understanding of this common law offence among staff of different ranks in a targeted manner.

(4) Regarding training on the Mainland, the CSC currently arranges for middle and senior-level and directorate officers to attend national studies programmes at nine Mainland institutions (Note 2) at different stages of their career to learn about the national governance policies and macro development strategies of our country. Starting from 2022, the CSC jointly organises the two-year Master's Degree in Public Policy Programme with Peking University. Each year, 15 to 20 senior civil servants with leadership potential are selected to participate in the programme for them to deepen their understanding of the national development, strengthen their national awareness and strategic vision, and enhance their overall leadership skills essential to public administration. The CSC also sponsors senior civil servants to attend the Executive Master of Public Administration Programme for the Project of Hong Kong Public Administrative Talents at Tsinghua University. In addition to classroom training, the CSB, in partnership with Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, as well as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Hangzhou, organises the Civil Service Exchange Programme. The programme arranges for promising middle and senior-level civil servants to attach to Mainland counterparts for four weeks to three months. This allows them to gain first-hand understanding of the philosophy and rationale behind policy formulation and implementation in Mainland cities, broadening their perspectives and mindset, and enhancing their public leadership capabilities.

     Regarding overseas training, the CSB arranges for promising middle-to-senior level civil servants to attend senior executive management programmes at renowned institutions in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and Singapore, etc. Participants on training outside Hong Kong are required to write individual learning reports. The CSC also interviews those who have completed overseas training to understand their learning experiences and insights, and to evaluate the effectiveness. Additionally, the CSC organises seminars and invites individual participants of the Civil Service Exchange Programme to share their experiences and learning after returning to Hong Kong so as to benefit more civil servants. 

     With the support of the CPG and the assistance of the OCMFA in the HKSAR, we took part in the United Nations (UN) Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme for the first time in 2019. To date, two batches totalling 17 HKSAR young public officers recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were sent to take up various positions in the UN offices in New York, the United States; Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; and Nairobi, Kenya as Chinese personnel. The two batches of JPOs performed outstandingly and were highly commended by the UN side. Some of them even have their tenures extended by the UN given their impressive performance. We are actively preparing to send the third batch of officers, with the aim of sending them off from this year onwards.

(5) Currently, the service targets of the CSC are primarily civil servants. For individual training programmes, depending on their content, nature and capacity, we also invite non-civil servants to participate. For example, in seminars elaborating on the important policies and the spirit behind speeches of the CPG, participants include Members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, politically appointed officials, and staff from government-funded organisations. Occasionally, staff from public organisations also participate in the Advanced Leadership Enhancement Programme and the Leadership In Action Programme. The long-term goal of the CSC, subject to resource availability, is to develop into a training base on public administration, providing training for the HKSAR Government and other public officers to better support the overall development of Hong Kong.

Note 1: Taken up by directorate officers at D2 level or above.

Note 2: The nine Mainland institutions include the National Academy of Governance, Tsinghua University, Peking University, China Foreign Affairs University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Wuhan University, Sun Yat-sen University and Jinan University.

Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:20

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