XN000022-1996-05-08 — Page 56

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Purpose of integrity checks on civil servants explained

Following is a question by Dr the Hon John Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr W K Lam, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

Answer:

Mr President,

whether, in recruiting new staff members and selecting serving staff for promotion, it is the current practice of the disciplined services to investigate the criminal records of the relatives of those concerned and take such records into account in the selection process; if so, what the reasons are; and

if the answer to the first part in (a) is in the positive, whether -

(i)

(ii)

such a practice is subject to regulation under any legislation; and

the Government has drawn up any guidelines governing such a practice and, if so, what the rationale is; and whether the Government has reviewed the guidelines to ascertain if they contravene the Bill of Rights and the international human rights Covenants and, if so, whether the Government will consider amending the guidelines?

For all recruitment and promotion to some positions in the disciplined services, integrity checks are carried out. The purpose of integrity checks is to ensure that the character and integrity of the candidates recommended for appointment and serving officers recommended for promotion are not in doubt and that they can be trusted to perform the functions expected of them in those positions. After carrying out such checks, the Police issue an assessment of integrity of the candidates or officers to the departments concerned. Such assessments concern the individuals only, not their family members.