- 1 ·
Government statement on possible judicial review by SNEOA
The Government regrets the decision of the Senior Non-Expatriate Officers Association to seek a judicial review of the guidelines issued by the Civil Service Branch about civil servants serving on the Selection Committee, a government spokesman said this (Friday) evening.
He said the government considered it was important that senior, and certain other groups of civil servants, should refrain from participating in overt political activities.
"Civil service must remain politically neutral to ensure that government business is and is seen to be conducted impartially. An impartial and apolitical civil service is a cornerstone of Hong Kong's success. This is a point widely recognised by all sides," he said.
The spokesman emphasised that participation in the Selection Committee was overt political activity. It was not simply voting anonymously with tens of thousands of others. Persons wishing to serve needed to nominate themselves and would go through a selection procedure, he pointed out.
"And by serving, they accept the role of choosing a candidate for Chief Executive and of choosing people to serve on a provisional legislature.
"Members of the Selection Committee would also be constantly in the spot light, asked for their views on candidates and policies," he said.
The spokesman reiterated that the government guidelines were fair, struck a reasonable balance and were lawful.
He said the government would need to see the terms of the challenge before it could comment further.
End