42 Hong Kong civil servants suspended over protest arrests, even with ‘no guilt presumed’ and legal proceedings under way, authorities say
- Civil Service Bureau also says it is looking into calls from pro-Beijing camp for all employees to swear allegiance to the Basic Law
- A civil servant who is suspended would normally have not more than 50 per cent of his or her salary withheld upon being charged with a criminal offence
The Civil Service Bureau said it was also “actively studying” if all employees should swear allegiance to the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
The bureau revealed the figures in written replies to pro-establishment lawmakers Junius Ho Kwan-yiu and Starry Lee Wai-king, who filed questions in the run-up to the annual Legislative Council Finance Committee special meetings next week.
As of February 29, a total of 43 civil servants have been arrested and are under police investigation or charged for “suspected involvement in unlawful public activities”. The cases centred on anti-government protests sparked last June by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.
The bureau said 42 had been interdicted so far, but did not mention their offences or posts, citing non-interference with judicial or disciplinary proceedings.
A civil servant who is suspended would normally have not more than 50 per cent of his or her salary withheld upon being charged with a criminal offence, the bureau said.
Yet, it added that this was “not a disciplinary punishment and there is no presumption of guilt”, in response to concerns raised by pan-democrat Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu.