TNAG-2667-FCO40-3864-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-1993 — Page 35

11-MAR-1993 11:36

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reserves and the Land Fund will be amount to $100 billion. Although the figure is not large enough for the SAR Government to be described as "rich", at least there will be sufficient funds to pay your pensions.

Purges out of the question

Q:

A:

Civil servants in HK are now enforcing British laws. Sometimes, their official duties may not fall in line with China's wish, will there be "purges after autumn harvests"?

Under the present civil service system, civil servants should remain apolitical. I think you have not joined any political groups. Such a system should continue to operate because only then can the steadiness and continuity of the civil service workforce be maintained. Since the civil service system is separate from politics, you are not required to take any political responsibility when taking part in drawing up Government policies or enforcing them. Somebody has taken up the political role. Mr Patten is doing the job. We do not want to politicise civil servants before 1997. Moreover, Mr Patten has asked some civil servants to indicate their political stand, which I think is not in line with the civil service system. Civil servants should remain apolitical as far as possible. It is unnecessary to get them involved in politics. Therefore for you, this problem does not exist at all. You carry out your official duties by sticking to the relevant laws. Your Customs Department has its customs laws and your Immigration Department has its immigration laws. You merely follow the legislation when fulfilling your duties. Today you are working for HK. Tomorrow you are still working for HK. Today you carry out your duties according to HK laws. Tomorrow you still carry out your duties according to HK laws. The laws will not change. Therefore the question of "purges after autumn harvests" does not exist at all. We definitely will not discriminate against you because you have worked for the HK Government in the past. If we want to discriminate against you, then all civil servants will need to be replaced by 1997. Thic ic impossible and is not in line with our policy. We have clearly put it down in the JD that public servants previously serving in HK may continue their work after 1997. This is · our policy. therefore you may set your hearts at ease over this point. If we were to adopt a discriminatory attitude against you and have a major change of blood, how could we recruit so many people at one time? This is impossible. You have worked in HK for many years and are familiar with the operation of the Government. We cannot possibly recruit some new hands who are not familiarised with HK's situation to run the place. Therefore, the question of "purges after autumn harvests" does not exist at all. You may just set your hearts at ease over the issue.