The Civil Service Bureau issued a circular to all policy bureaus and departments today, promulgating the requirement for non-civil service government staff appointed on or after July 1, 2020 to sign a declaration.

The bureau said non-civil service government staff whose employment contracts commenced on or after July 1 last year have to sign a declaration that they will uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the Hong Kong SAR Government.

They should sign and return their declaration in three weeks after the department issues the letter concerned. For prospective non-civil service appointees, they have to sign the declaration when accepting the appointment offer.

The bureau noted that the requirement for non-civil service staff to sign the declaration is an open acknowledgement of the acceptance and a genuine manifestation of the responsibilities of and expectations on them.

The move will further safeguard and promote the core values that should be upheld by all government employees and ensure effective governance, the bureau said, adding that it accords with the requirement stipulated in the National Security Law.

It also said public servants should be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the Hong Kong SAR Government as stipulated under the Basic Law. Non-civil service staff, like their civil service counterpart, are public servants and should in no uncertain terms acknowledge and accept these duties.

Negligence or refusal to sign and return the declaration by non-civil service staff reflects a refusal to comply with the requirement under the National Security Law and to acknowledge, accept and discharge the duties of public servants provided under the Basic Law as well as a serious lack of commitment to adhere to the core values of government employees.

The Government will, based on the facts of each case, consider whether action should be taken to terminate the employment of the non-civil service staff concerned. They will be given an opportunity to give an explanation in the process.

If a non-civil service staff commits a misconduct which also involves a breach of the declaration, the Government will, having regard to the specific circumstances of the case, take appropriate disciplinary actions against the staff.