3。
(c)
2
the officer will not be in a position to exert influence over his former department.
For officers at Secretary or Head of Department level a further caveat is that they are not permitted to take up employment until at least three months from their last day of active service. Although the Governor has discretion to waive this 'sanitisation' period, he has the authority to withhold permission for up to two years in exceptional circumstances, for example, if a conflict of interest may arise.
4.
Apart from provisions of the Pensions Ordinance all officers are bound by the Official Secrets Act and are thus debarred from making use of or releasing any information which may be sensitive.
5.
As regards officers who resign from the civil service without a pension they are free to take up employment in the private sector without seeking permission but they too are bound by the Official Secrets Act.