ENG-2009 — Page 63

Constitution and Administration 19

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The Civil Service

The civil service is responsible to the Chief Executive and supports the Government in formulating, explaining and implementing policies, conducting administrative affairs, delivering public services, and undertaking law enforcement and regulatory functions.

The civil service is a permanent, honest, meritocratic, professional and politically neutral institution. It employs about 4 per cent of Hong Kong's labour force. It provides staff for all government departments and other units of the Administration. At December 31, 2009, the total strength of the civil service was 156 200 (excluding about 1 500 judges and judicial officers and ICAC officers).

Overall policy responsibility for the management of the civil service lies with the Civil Service Bureau of the Government Secretariat. The bureau's remit includes making policies on appointments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training and development, conduct and discipline and use of official languages in the civil service. The bureau is also the focal point for consultation with major staff associations. It takes care of the management of Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, Official Languages Officer, Training Officer, Simultaneous Interpreter, Calligraphist as well as the clerical and secretarial grades staff. Management of the civil service is governed mainly by three important instruments: the Public Service (Administration) Order, the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation and the Civil Service Regulations, all made with the authority of the Chief Executive.

The Public Service Commission is an independent statutory body set up under the Public Service Commission Ordinance. Its fundamental role is to advise the Chief Executive on appointments, promotions and discipline in the civil service. The Government is also advised on civil service pay and conditions of service by three independent bodies: the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (directorate officers excluding judges and judicial officers and the disciplined services, but including the heads of the disciplined services); the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (the disciplined services except the heads of disciplined services); and the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (all other civil servants).

In accordance with the Basic Law, new recruits to the civil service on or after July 1, 1997 should normally be permanent residents of the HKSAR, save for those who fall within the exceptions provided in Articles 99 and 101 of the Basic Law.

Subject to the above policy, appointment to the civil service is based on open and fair competition which aims to recruit the best person for the job. Promotion is performance-based and not a reward for long service. As the largest employer in Hong Kong, the Government takes the lead in employing people with disabilities to