Numerous civil servants arrested and face losing their jobs for taking part in unlawful public activities.
Hong Kong civil servants protest in Charter Garden in August 2019
During the recent period of social unrest in Hong Kong, 41 civil servants have been arrested, according to figures released by the Hong Kong Police Force. Of those 41, 31 have been suspended and face losing their jobs if convicted by a court.
Joshua Law Chi Kong, Secretary for the Civil Service, said, “31 have been interdicted and suspended from service. In the event that they are convicted by the court, we will initiate disciplinary actions. The result could be sacking or warnings depending on the situation.”
Law said the decisions to suspend arrested civil servants were made in the public interest, explaining, “We need to consider public perception if an arrested civil servant is allowed to continue to exercise the powers and functions of office. Law also stressed that the number of civil servants detained for taking part in unlawful public activities only accounted for a tiny minority of the 180,000 government employees in Hong Kong.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
