The British Hong Kong Administration Study On Chinese Civil Servants(1914-1997)

Recent studies of the Hong Kong civil service system(the" HKCSS" or "system")has been focused on discussion of advancements and competitiveness.limited research was found in relation to the civil servants of Hong Kong,in particular the studies of the group of Chinese civil servants in Hong Kong under the British rule.The examination of historical trail and evolution of the HKCSS facilitates in depth understanding of the forming and shaping mechanism of the System.This paper investigates roles and influences of the Chinese civil servants during the formation and transformation of the HKCSS.In historical context,HKCSS was originated from the United Kingdom,it carried the backbone of the colonial regime,and Chinese civil servants were excluded from government policy forming at this stage.Overall dissimilitude was characterized by a "one system,two structure" arrangement.This had led to fast track promotional channel for "non-locals" which placed Chinese civil servant at severe disadvantage.In addition,it had contributed to significant gap in salary among British and Chinese civil servants,which in turn,the phenomena initiated the uprising of Chinese civil servant protest demand to reform the existing system and minimize unequal opportunities.Given its significance,the earliest record of Chinese civil servants protest to increase wage was dated just after First World War,and its campaign emphasis was on civil service system reform.Chinese civil servants demonstration was intensified after Second World War,and started to focus on initiatives which promotes radical adjustments from the British government,and ultimate legalization of equal leverage for the entire Hong Kong civil service system.As a result,this movement expanded beyond the scope of economic reform,and had sowed the seed of "Localization" policy implementation,changed employment procedures,salary grading and adjustments accordingly.This had allowed Chinese civil servant gradually reformed the existing "one system,two structure"arrangement,and begun fully integrated into the civil service system.As the rising economic and social development after the HKCSS formation,a corruption crisis was emerged within the civil servant group consequently posed a serious threat to the development of Hong Kong.In late 1940s,the British Hong Kong Government began to pay attention to the problems exposed from civil servant group.The authorities implemented measures included anti-corruption legislation,police anti-corruption unit and others to curb the spread of corruption.After Second World War,more than two decades of intermittent anti-corruption actions carried out by the severely corrupted police department,produced no significant achievements but prevailed a wind of corruption upon the whole community.The delayed action from the government and civil service union to strengthen self-discipline in curbing corruption problem,resulted a more unbridled corrupted civil service.In the late 1960s,by influence of political events,the British Hong Kong Government appointed the Against Corruption Advisory Committee to investigate corruption situation.Commissioners were sent to visit Singapore,Ceylon and other places to gain anti-corruption experience.The authority tightened corruption punishment policy,and actively published information on corruption cases and statistics.The "Prevention of Bribery Ordinance" was established during this time to enhance punishment against corruption.The Chinese civil servant group had made a contribution towards this ordinance by advising strengthen oversight mechanisms of the anti-corruption agency,later on played an important role in Hong Kong's anti-corruption development.The 1973 "Godber Incident" had demonstrated how Hong Kong British Government deferred the formation of an independent anti-corruption agency,which resulted in the delay of any effective breakthrough in anti-corruption development.The Independent Commission Against Corruption("ICAC")was finally established to tackle the corruption as the outcome of general public's protest that separation of the Police force and anti-corruption unit A series of regulations aimed to confine civil servants corruption were implemented by law gradually after the "anti-corruption" campaign,which built a mechanism for HKCSS formation and internal governance.In addition,the civil service integrity monitoring system was introduced to effectively tackle wide-spread corruption,and also laid the "clean and efficient" foundation for modern Hong Kong civil service.In view of the fact that the Chinese civil servant group had increasing constructive involvement for the establishment of Hong Kong's education,medical care,and municipal affairs.During the 1980s the Chinese civil servant groups were actively participated in the planning and formation of policies to going through this"Transitional Period",and played a critical role in maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and overall social and economic stabilities.