Policy Address 2025: Gov’t staff to face warnings, pay cuts, dismissal for misconduct under new system

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has announced a new civil servant accountability mechanism, empowering the Public Service Commission to conduct investigations.

Lee announced the new system – which could see government workers face warnings, reprimands, pay cuts or dismissals for misconduct – during his 2025 Policy Address, delivered to the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

Lee praised the civil service but said that “[p]roblems inevitably occur in individual departments. The causes behind them must be identified in good time and rectified to prevent them from undermining the overall trust that society places in the Government… Establishing a Heads of Department Accountability System (the HoD Accountability System), therefore, is of critical significance.”

He said the system aimed to enhance efficiency, improve workflow, eliminate bottlenecks, identify deficiencies, and put in place a system of consequences when problems occur.

“The consequences include warnings, reprimands, not being granted a salary increment, relegation in rank, reduction in salary, compulsory retirement and even dismissal,” Lee told the legislature.

The existing Public Service Commission, which currently advises the chief executive on matters affecting the civil service, will be empowered to conduct investigations. The plan will be implemented with subsidiary legislation made under the Public Service Commission Ordinance, Lee said.

See also: Explainer: What to know about Hong Kong gov’t’s water contract scandal

This summer, authorities were embroiled in a HK$52.9 million bottled water procurement scandal involving Xin Ding Xin Trading Co., which allegedly used fraudulent means to win a government contract. The deal with the mainland firm was axed in August, with police making two arrests.

Two tiers of investigation

A secretary will be able to commission an investigation on their own, or following a referral from a director, Lee told lawmakers. There will be two tiers of investigations, depending on the severity of the situation.

A Tier I probe may be taken up by a department head. “They will be responsible for identifying the deficiencies of the department and putting in place improvements, taking forward administrative or disciplinary actions against the officers who have underperformed or engaged in misconduct,” Lee said.

For a “widespread or a repetitive, systemic” matter, or if a department head may be implicated, a Tier II probe can be triggered. Such investigations will “identify the deficiencies of the department and attribute responsibility,” whilst remaining impartial and independent from the government. Government workers of all ranks may be investigated by a standing team.

An appraisal system will also be studied, Lee said on Wednesday, to “enhance the overall effectiveness of the departments, raise the morale of good performers, assist those with room for improvement to improve their capability, and handle the small number of staff involved in misconduct in a fair manner.”

There is already an accountability system for non-civil-service political positions, introduced in 2002 and expanded in 2008.

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