Exclusive | Hong Kong protests: civil servants told they will be suspended immediately if they are arrested while taking part in unlawful public activities
- Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law says the government will not tolerate government employees breaching the law
Hong Kong’s civil service minister has warned government employees they could face immediate suspension or other disciplinary action if they are arrested for taking part in unlawful public activities.
In a letter to 180,000 civil servants on Friday, Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong said the government was extremely concerned about civil servants getting involved in unlawful activities.
“The government will not tolerate civil servants breaching the law,” he wrote.
“It would be difficult for the community to accept an arrested civil servant being allowed to continue to exercise the powers and functions of office.
“In this regard, we will interdict the officer in the public interest when an inquiry against him is being undertaken,” he wrote.
“Civil servants convicted of criminal offences will not only be penalised under the law; the government will also take disciplinary actions against them in accordance with established mechanisms,” Law wrote.
He emphasised the government had a “zero-tolerance” attitude towards civil servants who violated the law.