Hong Kong's Secretary for the Civil Service, Nip Tak-kuen, says at a Legislative Council meeting today (March 15) that there are over 100 civil servants who refused to sign the declaration to pledge allegiance to the SAR government.
Nip reveals that the relevant departments are collating the information and will later report back to the Civil Service Bureau.
He adds that the departments in charge have sent letters to the civil servants who refused to sign the declaration, requesting them to state their reasons. Upon receipt of their replies, the authorities will take further action, Nip says.
"They will have to resign...The authorities will strictly follow the relevant procedures. But it won't take too long," he says.
Nip points out that for those who have signed the declaration, accounting for the vast majority of civil servants, are well aware of their basic responsibility and commitment to serve the SAR government in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law.
Nip adds that civil service training would be reviewed and made more targeted. He says that new recruits are required to complete basic constitutional training during their three-year probationary period, and that 75% of incumbent civil servants have already attended national studies.
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