The Hong Kong government has fired a stern warning to civil servants on the eve of a planned rally over the extradition bill crisis, telling them to remain politically neutral and to have “total loyalty” to the city’s leader or risk consequences. In a surprise move on Thursday, the administration issued a statement to make clear that it would seriously follow up on any violation. This came a day before 2,000 civil servants are expected to show up for a rally over the now-shelved bill that would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to places with which the city does not have an extradition agreement, including mainland China. Some civil servants are also expected to join a citywide strike on Monday, an action that has drawn support from those in sectors such as banking and the arts. Organiser vows to push ahead with Yuen Long march after police ban “Any acts to undermine the principle of political neutrality of the civil service are totally unacceptable to the government as this will damage the public’s confidence ... and give a wrong impression to the public that civil servants are unable to discharge their duties in an impartial manner,” the statement read. It cited the Civil Service Code, mentioning that civil servants must be completely loyal to the chief executive and the administration, and do their utmost to carry out duties. It also said employees should not be affected by their personal political views at work. The statement expressed opposition to behaviour that would mislead the public into thinking that views of those protesting represented all 180,000 civil servants. Government employees could make use of established internal channels to air their views on events happening in Hong Kong, the statement added. “At this difficult moment, government colleagues have to stay united and work together to uphold the core values of the civil service.” At this difficult moment, government colleagues have to stay united and work together to uphold the core values of the civil service Government statement It also noted that some civil servants had issued anonymous letters to share their views on the bill controversy, but said it was difficult to ascertain writers’ identities as the letters were anonymous. Also on Thursday, in a frank letter to civil servants, Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong said: “I absolutely do not agree with colleagues who initiate or take part in political assemblies or strikes in the names of civil servants. Doing so would shake the public’s confidence that civil servants can remain politically neutral and carry out their duties in an impartial manner.” Who are the young civil servants defying peers and elders by holding a rally? Organisers of the Friday civil service protest did not respond when contacted. But Leung Chau-ting, chairman of the 10,000-strong Federation of Civil Service Unions, said he did not believe the government statement would deter civil servants from joining the march. “Article 27 of the Basic Law guarantees Hongkongers’ freedom of speech and assembly,” he said, referring to the city’s mini-constitution. “They are civil servants but they are also Hongkongers.” They are civil servants but they are also Hongkongers Leung Chau-ting, Federation of Civil Service Unions The retired civil servant added that the Civil Service Code did not state staff would be punished for not showing total loyalty to the city’s leader. He said in his 40-year career with the government, he had never seen such a large divide among workers over such matters. The Chinese Civil Servants’ Association however stated in a letter it opposed initiating an assembly in the name of civil servants. The difference between a Kowloon protest and one on Hong Kong Island Meanwhile, police turned down an application for a Saturday march in the shopping district of Mong Kok, citing potential risk to public safety, allowing only an assembly at a playground instead. Another march in Hong Kong Island West for Sunday was likewise not allowed but the force agreed to a demonstration at a playground. It was the third time in two weeks police had taken the rare move of not allowing a protest against the bill, after demonstrations since June had increasingly ended in violence. In a letter to Mong Kok protest organiser Ng Wing-tak, the force on Thursday stated that locals and tourists in the busy shopping hub could be in danger if the march turned violent. Large road blockades could also seriously affect services at Kwong Wah Hospital, fire stations and first aid stations in the area, police said. “Based on the serious clashes that have taken place after the recent demonstrations and protests, as well as the recent social sentiment, police have reasons to believe that you may not be able to control the behaviours of those taking part in this protest,” the letter said. Police have reasons to believe that you may not be able to control the behaviours of those taking part in this protest Police letter to organiser Ng planned to start the event at the Anchor Street Playground and march all the way to the intersection of Yim Po Fong Street and Shantung Street. But police said they would only allow a demonstration at the playground. “The decision was very unreasonable because the route was suggested by police,” Ng said, calling the move “white terror”. He said he would consider whether to go ahead with the approved assembly or to press on with the banned march. Another protest was planned by health care professionals for Friday evening in Edinburgh Place in Central. Police have already issued a notice of no objection to organisers. The force also approved a Sunday protest in Tseung Kwan O. Ethnic minorities harassed and discriminated against over Yuen Long attack Separately, the Heung Yee Kuk, a powerful rural body representing interests of those in the New Territories, is planning a rally in Victoria Park for Saturday to show support for the embattled police force. As calls for a citywide strike on Monday gathered steam, Kingsley Wong Kwok, chairman of the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions urged Hongkongers not to take part. He said the government had already declared the bill “dead”. But about 700 people in the arts industry signed a petition to call for support for the strike, calling on employers in the sector not to punish those who took part. Hong Kong has been rocked by demonstrations since June over the government’s plan to pass the bill, with clashes between police and protesters. The force has faced massive public backlash for its use of tear gas, rubber bullets, sponge grenades and beanbag rounds to disperse crowds. Police maintained that they had always given enough time for protesters to disperse before taking any action.