China News Service, Hong Kong, March 12th. Title: Interview with Nie Dequan: Hong Kong civil servants have the dual status of SAR and national public officials

  China News Agency reporter Zeng Ping

  "Hong Kong has its own set of civil servant management system, but after the return at the same time, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has also been incorporated into the country's governance system. Therefore, we are both civil servants of the SAR government and public servants of the country, with dual identities." Secretary for Affairs Nie Dequan said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency recently.

  Nie Dequan, who has served in different departments of the SAR government for many years and has experience in the Beijing office of the SAR government, speaks fluent and clear Mandarin.

In April 2020, Nie Dequan was transferred from the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs to the Secretary for Civil Service. After that, one of his important tasks was to promote Hong Kong civil servants to take oaths or sign declarations to support the Hong Kong Basic Law, allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and to the Special Administrative Region Government. Be responsible for.

  Since October last year, the SAR government has successively arranged for politically appointed deputy directors and political assistants, senior civil servants, newly recruited civil servants, and current civil servants to make relevant oaths or signed declarations, covering all about 180,000 civil servants.

"Every civil servant in the Hong Kong SAR government has the mission and responsibility to implement the'one country, two systems'." Nie Dequan believes that through the arrangement of oaths or signing declarations, the basic responsibilities of civil servants and the requirements and expectations of the public have been reduced. Speak more thoroughly", and the most important requirement for members of the political system is that they must meet the standards of patriots.

  During the reporter's interview, the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress passed the "Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Electoral System" with a high vote.

In Nie Dequan's view, the Hong Kong National Security Law was promulgated last year to ensure that Hong Kong maintains national security at the legal level. The improvement of the SAR election system this time is to ensure that Hong Kong is governed by patriots under the "one country, two systems" at the election system level.

  Nie Dequan said that it is natural for patriots to govern any place.

This has never been a problem in any other place or country, nor will it cause controversy.

He believes that "patriots governing Hong Kong" is a fundamental and important principle to ensure that Hong Kong implements "One Country, Two Systems" and allows "One Country, Two Systems" to achieve steady and far-reaching development. The design of the election system has always been the central authority, and the SAR government will give it all. Cooperate.

  Nie Dequan confessed that important issues such as support for the Hong Kong Basic Law and loyalty to the SAR have been less discussed in Hong Kong for a long time, so the relevant training for civil servants is insufficient.

Civil servants in Hong Kong have the dual status of SAR and national public officials. They must accurately implement "One Country, Two Systems", recognize that "One Country" is the prerequisite and basis of "Two Systems", and know how to handle the relationship between "One Country" and "Two Systems" and the relationship between the Central and the SAR Furthermore, Hong Kong civil servants must be innovative in their thinking. Don't think about why this job can't be done, but think about how this job can be done.

The job of civil servants in Hong Kong is ultimately to serve the public so that the public can benefit from the policy. Therefore, the policy must be implemented into specific measures and arrangements.

In addition, senior civil servants who are heads of departments or permanent secretaries must have responsibilities and explain and explain their own tasks to the media.

  Nie Dequan mentioned that Hong Kong civil servants have an established promotion mechanism. The promotion committee and the statutory independent civil service commission will review the performance of the senior civil servants. For department heads and permanent secretary levels, they usually have different committee members. Observe their talents, character and experience for a long time.

"I have confidence in our department heads and permanent secretaries." He said that civil servants must be promoted in accordance with the existing system and the system must be respected.

  Nie Dequan believes that, in general, Hong Kong has a professional and efficient civil service team.

Facing the unprecedented challenge of the epidemic in the past year or so, civil servants are actively playing their role in a difficult environment.

  "We must know that, especially for senior civil servants and politically appointed officials, what we do every day is not only a job, but also a responsibility. Do this responsibility and work well and contribute to the future development of Hong Kong and the country. This is also our mission." Nie Dequan said.

(Finish)