TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 77

Date

CONFIDENTIAL

3

Appendix I

Chinese Comments on "Politicisation" of Civil Service

Official/Sources

/Commentaries

5.9.93

HKMAO Director

Lu Ping

Comments

The British side has proposed the creation.

of a new functional seat for civil

servants, which implies that civil

servants can stand in elections and be elected. This will affect stability in the civil service as well as Government efficiency. The Government policy of allowing civil servants to join political parties represents a fundamental change to the civil service system and a violation of the JD and RL. This policy has to be reconsidered after 1997. The confidence of

civil servants will no doubt be affected, and all these have been stirred up by

Governor Patten.

5.9.93

PWC economic

sub-group co-

convenor Xiao Weiyun

5.9.93

NCNA HK Vice-

director Zhang Junsheng

5.9.93

JLG Chinese team

leader Guo

Fengmin

The decision to allow civil servants to join political groups is a violation of the JD and the BL. It has been stipulated in the BL that the civil service system would remain unchanged after 1997 in order to maintain HK's stability and prosperity. The Chinese side will firmly oppose any changes that might affect the stability of the civil service.

Allowing civil servants to take part in politics is a change to the existing executive-led civil service system and a violation of the JD and the BL.

Everything related to the civil service will have to be discussed in the JLG.

CONFIDENTIAL