WITH THE introduction of the new ministerial system, they have become probably the most powerful people in town, holding high public office and receiving a multimillion-dollar pay package. But, according to a new survey, most local youngsters said they would not consider a career in government. Under the new ministerial system, the 'three senior principal officials and 11 ministers with policy portfolios' - who cannot be civil servants - are accountable to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who has the power to dismiss them if their performance is not up to standard. It is hoped that with the restructuring of the upper ranks of the SAR Government - effective from yesterday, five years after Hong Kong returned to mainland rule - the administration will function more efficiently. However, despite these officials' important positions, more than 60 per cent of those interviewed recently by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) said they would not want to hold senior public office because they did not understand the new system. 'The interviewees didn't really understand the ministerial system. They didn't know what duties these [14] posts required. That's why they didn't appear to be interested in taking up the jobs,' said James Mok Hon-fai, HKFYG supervisor. For the survey, a sample of 509 people aged 18 to 39 were interviewed. Carrie Chan Ka-lei, a Year Three student at Baptist University, echoed the survey's results, saying that she would not be interested in taking up any of the senior posts. The 21-year-old said: 'Ministerial duties are more like administrative work. I would rather do something practical that would make a difference. 'I also wouldn't want to be a civil servant. Being one means I would have to stay [politically] neutral.' Only 8.1 per cent of the interviewees said they would want to be a minister, while 25.2 per cent did not mind pursuing a career as a civil servant. Lau Mung-wa, a 26-year-old technician, said he would be more interested in becoming a civil servant than a minister. 'The salary and job nature are more stable,' he said. 'As for a minister, I don't really understand the nature of the job. I think they need to work under great pressure. That's why I'd rather be a civil servant.' Other than highlighting the respondents' lack of understanding of the ministerial system, the survey also showed that the public has different expectations of Mr Tung's Government. While most expected the new line-up to come up with policies to revitalise the local economy, others were more concerned about ministers' public image. Some interviewees said it was important for ministers to be hard-working, enthusiastic and approachable. Many youngsters were not interested in how ministers should promote their policies. The survey showed people felt that 'the more ministers communicate with people, the more they would know what the people need. And when they introduce a new policy, they would take people's interests into account', Mr Mok explained. He also said that respondents thought enthusiasm for contributing to Hong Kong could drive the ministers to work harder and govern better. So if the survey is anything to go by, it would help if the new ministers have a good public persona. The survey also revealed that the most popular senior officials were Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung. All of them had impressed the public with their commitment to serve Hong Kong. On the other hand, the survey showed that the newly appointed Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang, and Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung were the least popular and most young respondents were unfamiliar with their duties. Post your comments on this issue on News Zone at http://ypost.scmp.com or e-mail to ypost@scmp.com
