Civil servants from various departments posted pictures of their staff badges on online forums and social networking sites to denounce the government’s handling of the crisis. Photo: protesters and general public. Photo: Handout
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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3020414/hong-kong-government-faces-another-challenge-civil-servants Politics
Hong Kong government faces another challenge, as civil servants schedule rally to demand solutions for protest crisis
- Organisers want independent inquiry into political fiasco and options for ending the city’s chaos
- Demonstration scheduled for Friday is expected to draw 500 to 1,000 government workers
Civil servants have posted pictures of their staff badges on online forums and social networking sites to demand answers from the government. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong’s leader was on Sunday plunged deeper into political crisis after a group of civil servants announced a rally to demand answers from the government on how it is working to ease the city’s intensifying turmoil.
The rally – scheduled for Friday at Chater Garden in Central – was expected to draw 500 to 1,000 government workers. It was announced after a number of administrative officers, executive officers and government lawyers separately issued letters urging Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to order an independent inquiry into the fiasco.
“Many of our colleagues have expressed their concerns online over the situation and we think it is time to provide everyone a platform, and to unite our demands to the chief executive and her governing team,” said Michael Ngan Mo-chau, who works in the Labour Department and is one of the rally organisers.
“We would like to play our parts in help to mend the widening rift in society by channelling the citizens’ voices to the administration.”
Ngan said the group hoped Lam would address the five demands made by protesters, including to fully withdraw the now-suspended extradition bill and order an investigation into the police’s use of force in handling the anti-bill protests.
Cheung Ka-po, a rally organiser from the Transport Department, said a dozen civil servants had started a group on Telegram, an online platform, and decided to hold a rally after hundreds of their colleagues put forth anonymous petitions last week.
“Some have thought of planning a strike but it is not easy to implement and would also affect citizens,” Cheung said.
The word 'Deadline' word was painted outside the central government offices in Tamar during a protest against the extradition bill. Photo: Sam Tsang
“As civil servants, we hope to tell the chief executive that there are people on her own team who want her to address the protesters’ demands.”
Cheung said he hoped the peaceful rally would help cool down the tense social climate. Leaders of the civil servants’ group said they would apply for a letter of no objection from the police on Monday.
Anti-government protesters and police clashed at multiple spots this weekend, including Yuen Long and Sai Ying Pun where rubber bullets and tear gas were fired.
Ngan and Cheung said they were not worried about possible retaliation.
“The rally would only be held after office hours,” said Cheung. “We are also Hongkongers after getting off work.”