Zhang: Patriotism cultivation focus of Civil Service College

HONG KONG - The newly established Hong Kong's Civil Service College should prioritize cultivating public servants' sense of patriotism and responsibility, as well as global perspective and strategic thinking, Zhang Xiaoming, a senior official in charge of Hong Kong affairs, said during the institution's founding ceremony on Thursday.

Zhang, who is the deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a video speech that the central government has placed great importance on the training of Hong Kong and Macao civil servants. He added that his office will offer support for Hong Kong to better leverage the nation's resources in civil servant training.

The well-trained civil servant team has been a major force in implementing "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" to maintain the special administrative region's stability and prosperity after the SAR's return to the motherland, Zhang said.

With the HKSAR being included in the nation's governance system, there is a practical need to strengthen public servants' ability to better adapt to social developments, he added.

Zhang noted that although some Chinese mainland organizations have opened some training courses oriented for Hong Kong civil servants, they still can't cope with the huge demand. Having a local college will better serve the demand, he said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in a speech at the ceremony said the priority for the academy is to enhance civil servants' understanding of the relationship between the central government and the government of the special administrative region.

That is especially important for the young civil servants who may not have comprehensive education on these essential values at school, she said, adding that such training will raise them to be responsible, enterprising and determined civil servants.

What happened over the past few years clearly proves that there is room for improvement for enhancing civil servants' national identity and understanding of the national development, Lam said.

Lam expressed her expectations on the training of civil servants, saying she hopes they can shoulder the duty of safeguarding national security and correctly comprehending the constitutional order of the SAR, which is formed jointly by the Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

They shall firmly implement the policy of "patriots administering Hong Kong" so as to make sure of the sustained and steady implementation of "one country, two systems" and maintain the city's long-term stability and prosperity, Lam said.

Civil servants, particularly the management, need to know the philosophy and the spirit of the Communist Party of China – the nation's ruling party, Lam stressed.

Citing her own experience, Lam said she has never lost the core values of being a public officer despite facing daunting challenges over her 40 years in public office.

Civil servants should be facilitators and promoters to "tell Hong Kong stories better" to the Chinese mainland and overseas, Lam said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hong Kong Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said the college will strengthen cooperation with mainland universities and other institutions in civil service training.

Last month, he revealed that the head of the institution is expected to assume office by June 2022. After completing a review of training content, the advisory board of civil service training advised the government to strengthen the officers' understanding of national affairs, the Constitution and the Basic Law, Nip said.

By June 2020, Hong Kong had over 170,000 civil servants. The college is located in North Point on Hong Kong Island.