Civil service unions urge members to pick Legislative Council candidates capable of improving Hong Kong life
Government Employees Association, Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union and Government Disciplined Services General Union said filibustering had affected a range of livelihood issues and wasted a large amount of public resources
Three major unions representing more than 100,000 civil servants made an unprecedented call yesterday for members to vote only for candidates capable of improving life in the city, as well as speaking up for the government’s workforce, in Sunday’s Legislative Council elections.
The Government Employees Association, Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union and Government Disciplined Services General Union issued a statement complaining that the working environment for civil servants had declined since the 1997 handover.
They said filibustering in the legislature had affected a range of livelihood issues and wasted a large amount of public resources.
The unions cited the failure of lawmakers to vote on bills dealing with columbarium space and fire services, which lapsed due to filibustering against a bill to improve oversight of doctors, as examples.
“Some politicians’ irrational behaviour has severely affected our work as well as people’s livelihood,” the unions said.
“Civil servants have to bear the consequences of people’s livelihood being affected.”
They urged members to come out to vote on Sunday for candidates who were “practical, able to improve Hong Kong’s plight and can speak up for civil servants”.