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Reply:

Mr President,

With the exception of disciplined officers of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force who are prohibited from joining political organisations under the Police General Orders, all other civil servants may join political organisations in their private capacity subject to the provisions of civil service regulations governing outside work and participation in such activities as giving interviews and speeches, publishing or distributing political literature, or taking part in a public rally.

Whilst civil servants are not required to declare their membership of political organisations, they are advised that if their involvement in a political organisation is likely to give rise to a conflict of interest with their official duties, they should refrain from taking part in the related activities. If they are in doubt about their obligations, they are encouraged to seek guidance since cach case has to be considered on its own facts. Our guiding principle is that the Civil Service should remain politically neutral in order to ensure that Government business is, and is seen to be, conducted impartially.

End

Population forecasts

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services. Mr Rafael Tui, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

whether it has substantially revised its forecasts of the territory's population for the next ten to 20 years in view of the increase in the number of returning emigrants and new immigrants from China in recent years; and

how the population growth in recent years will affect the Government's long-term planning on various fronts?