HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
259
With regard to the recent case in which some USD staff were being prosecuted by the ICAC, only 2 members were involved and currently on trial. For the USD, this is a very rare occurrence and should not be over emphasized. Mr. Chairman, the sole intention of the motion is to ask the USD to formulate a code of personal ethics in order to prevent staff from falling into the corruption traps; it is not to query the integrity of the USD staff. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I second the motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—The motion has been moved and seconded. Since I have not received any amendments, I will follow the speaking order and invite Members to speak.
Mr. Leung Kam-TAO (in Cantonese):—To eliminate corruption is something every government department and member of the public will agree and try hard to do. In order to wipe out corruption, apart from formulating a code of ethics as proposed by Ms. CHOW, what is more important is to have a sound and effective staff management system to ensure that staff will carry out the work of the department by following the rules. In particular, among the 16 000 staff members, most of them belong to the more junior levels and they have to carry out front-line work including street cleansing, market, park and hawker management and so forth. Their job performance can best reflect the achievements of the Urban Council; so if the Department can effectively eradicate corruption among them, then the goals of preventing corruption and developing municipal services will be achieved. In order to improve our management, the USD should refer to the practice of some private companies. At present, private companies in Hong Kong in general usually adopt and develop certain kinds of management methods, such as the human resource management strategies which are currently popular. In adopting this kind of practices, it is most important to formulate clear work goals, provide adequate training and construct an objective appraisal system for the staff. Therefore, while supporting the motion, I wish to ask for the Administration Select Committee of the UC to follow up the issue by commissioning a consultancy to conduct a comprehensive review, so as to improve staff management and achieve the goals of preventing corruption and developing municipal services.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, a good civil service must be efficient and effective in order that government policies can be implemented to achieve the aims of serving the public and the society. In fact, the USD has a large team of civil servants responsible for duties which are of great concern to the public, such as municipal services and licensing duties. It has always been a clean and efficient workforce; however, the recent cases of corruption involving certain staff members did affect adversely the public's confidence in the Department, as well as the morale of most clean and uncorrupt staff. Although these are isolated cases, the Department should adopt some preventive measures to plug the loopholes. I agree in principle with
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