honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features Civil service remains dedicated to pursuit of service excellence

Civil Service Newsletter Editorial Board

THE Chief Executive, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, highlighted enhanced governance and improvement to the quality of public services in the 2011-12 Policy Address entitled From Strength to Strength.

portal, and to promote the wider use of e-learning as part of the Government’s endeavours to fortify a culture of continuous learning in the civil service. Mr Tsang elaborating on the Policy Address during the press conference. Other civil service-related initiatives outlined in In the fi fth and fi nal annual Policy Address of his the 2011-12 Policy Address included: second term as the Chief Executive, Mr Tsang set • Studying the provision of paid paternity leave for out plans for ’s policy direction for the civil servants with a view to promoting this good coming year. practice; • Continuing to implement an action plan which He stated that an effective government relied on will ensure that the Basic Law forms an integral a professional and highly effi cient civil service, that part of training for civil servants, and that the civil servants would carry on the fi ne tradition and training is provided in a systematic and planned remain as dedicated as ever to their duties in pursuit manner which takes into account the needs of civil of service excellence and would stay committed to servants of different levels and work nature; serving the community in keeping with the spirit of putting people fi rst. • Continuing with the regular conduct of pay trend surveys, starting salaries surveys and pay Acknowledging the continued professionalism, level surveys in accordance with the improved effi ciency and dedication of the civil service, Mr civil service pay adjustment mechanism so as to Tsang reiterated his pledge that the Government maintain broad comparability between civil service would continue to control the size of the civil pay and private sector pay; service by providing the necessary management • Continuing to maintain and enhance the morale tools to assist bureaus and departments to make of the civil service, and encourage fuller use of more effective use of manpower resources and various commendation schemes to recognise and enhance effi ciency, while at the same time giving motivate exemplary performance; due consideration to the need for additional manpower resources for delivering new and • Continuing to maintain a vigorous, effective and improved services. effi cient disciplinary system against misconduct in the civil service; and Mr Tsang also emphasised the need to continue to • Continuing to monitor closely the removal of provide civil servants with training and development under-performers under the established procedures opportunities, to enhance the variety and content of while sustaining efforts to further improve training resources on the Government’s e-learning effi ciency and productivity in the civil service. 3 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity Departments and teams commended for outstanding service Civil Service Training and Development Institute,

ON September 12, 2011, a total of 45 nominations from 29 bureaus and departments (B/Ds) were presented with awards under the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2011. The Acting Chief Executive, Henry Tang Ying-yen, and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Raymond Wong Hung- chiu, together with over 600 guests and civil servants, celebrated the outstanding achievements of all award winners at the presentation ceremony. Mr Tang and other guests offi ciating at the Prize Presentation Ceremony.

In his congratulatory message, Mr Tang Category, while the Award for Small Department commended the award winners for their remarkable Category went to the . performance, saying, “Our efforts have won wide recognition and support from the general public. The Best Public Image Award, which was voted This has also made the level of public service in on by randomly selected members of the public, as Hong Kong highly commended in the international well as by all members of the Legislative and District community. I feel deeply honoured to work with Councils, went to the Hong Kong Fire Services such an outstanding team.” Department. In addition, fi ve team gold prizes were presented to the outstanding teams from the The response to this year’s Award Scheme , Hong Kong Fire Services was enthusiastic, with 110 entries from 42 B/Ds Department, Immigration Department, Housing competing for the Inter-departmental Partnership Department and . Award, the Departmental Service Enhancement Award and the Team Awards. This demonstrates both To further recognise the commendable efforts a high awareness of the continuous enhancement to of all award winners, a one-hour television service quality and the wide support for the Scheme documentary produced by the Radio Television within the civil service. Hong Kong was broadcast on TVB Jade and the Hong Kong Broadband bbTV on October 22, 2011. The 45 award-winning nominations were selected Newspaper supplements were also published after through a fair and vigorous adjudication process. the ceremony. At the cocktail reception before the ceremony, Mr Wong presented souvenirs of appreciation to the The Civil Service Training and Development adjudicators from different sectors and professions. Institute has always played a key role in promoting the best practices of the Scheme’s winners. We The “Promoting Inter-departmental Co-operative will organise seminars showcasing the winners, Water-saving Project”, a collaboration of the Water and will also produce a video series featuring cases Supplies Department and the , of exemplary service for broadcast on government won the championship of the Inter-departmental websites (http://www.youth.gov.hk and http:// Partnership Award. The Hong Kong Police Force was www.csb.gov.hk/clc) and at public waiting areas in declared the gold prize winner in the Departmental 300 government venues from December 2011. Service Enhancement Award for Large Department 4 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features

List of winners in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2011

Partnership Award Best Public Image Award Regulatory/Enforcement Service Gold Prize: Water Supplies Department*, Gold Prize: Hong Kong Fire Services Award Housing Department [Promoting Department Gold Prize: Immigration Department Inter-departmental Co-operative Silver Prize: Hong Kong Police Force [Immigration Task Force] Water-saving Project] Bronze Prize: Silver Prize: Electrical and Mechanical Services Silver Prize: Correctional Services Department*, Department [Reviving Gas] Architectural Services Department Specialised Service Award Bronze Prize: Electrical and Mechanical Services [Redevelopment of Lo Wu Correctional Department [Proactive Team] Institution] Gold Prize: Hong Kong Fire Services Meritorious Award: Department of Health Department [Fire Safety Performance-Based Bronze Prize: Correctional Services [Enforcement Unit of Tobacco Control Offi ce, Design] Department*, [The Enhanced Department of Health] Smart Teen Project] Silver Prize: Civil Aviation Department Meritorious Award: Hong Kong Police Force [Procedure & Evaluation Unit] Meritorious Award: Hong Kong Police Force*, [Police Licensing Offi ce] Marine Department, Electrical and Mechanical Bronze Prize: Leisure and Cultural Services Services Department [Versatile Maritime Policing Department [Hong Kong SAR Cultural Response] Programmes for Expo 2010 Shanghai] General Public Service Award Meritorious Award: Constitutional and Meritorious Award: Housing Department Gold Prize: Housing Department Mainland Affairs Bureau*, Architectural Services [Use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) [Marine Mud Green Process Pioneer] Department, Information Services Department, for Cost-effective Design Optimisation and Silver Prize: Drainage Services Department Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Enhancing Site Safety] [Hong Kong West Drainage Tunnel Project Team] Commerce and Economic Development Meritorious Award: Hong Kong Police Force Bronze Prize: Leisure and Cultural Services Bureau [The HKSAR’s Participation in the World [Project Sparkle] Department [Hong Kong Flower Show] Exposition 2010 Shanghai ] Special Citation (Innovation): Food and Meritorious Award: Housing Department * Co-ordinating department for the award Environmental Hygiene Department [FEHD [Structural Condition Monitoring Unit] Cemeteries and Crematoria Section] Meritorious Award: Departmental Service Enhancement [Hong Kong eTransport] Award (Large Department) Internal Service Award Special Citation (Innovation): Agriculture, Gold Prize: Hong Kong Police Force Gold Prize: Lands Department [Geospatial Fisheries and Conservation Department [Hong Silver Prize: Hong Kong Fire Services Department Information Service Unit] Kong Wetland Park Volunteer Unit] Bronze Prize: Customs and Excise Department Silver Prize: Hong Kong Fire Services Crisis/ Incident Support Service Meritorious Award: Department [Paramedic Services Quality Assurance System] Award Meritorious Award: Immigration Department Bronze Prize: Water Supplies Department [On- Gold Prize: Immigration Department Special Citation: Customs and Excise line Water Quality Monitoring System] [Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit] Department Meritorious Award: Civil Engineering and Hong Kong Police Force [Police Negotiation Cadre] Departmental Service Enhancement Development Department [Public Works Award (Small Department) Laboratories] Bronze Prize: Social Welfare Department Meritorious Award: Hong Kong Fire Services [Manila Hostage Incident Psycho-social Support Gold Prize: Hong Kong Observatory Department [Staff Stress Counselling Team] Team] Silver Prize: Companies Registry Special Citation (Innovation): Hong Kong Fire Meritorious Award: Transport Department Bronze Prize: The Land Registry Services Department [Establishment of FSD Fire [Emergency Traffi c Management] Investigation Group] Meritorious Award: Buildings Department [Survey of 50 year old buildings] Special Citation (Innovation): Social Welfare Department [SWD’s Deeds, for You in Need]

Mr Wong (centre) presenting certifi cates of appreciation to the adjudication panel.

5 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity Fire Services Department gold awards acknowledge services to the public

Civil Service Newsletter Editorial Board

The fi refi ghter spirit lies in the commitment to serving the community.

HONG Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) was recently the proud recipient of six awards in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2011, including the Best Public Image Award Gold Prize and the Specialised Service Award Gold Prize presented in acknowledgement of the Department’s efforts in sharing its many functions with the community and promoting fire safety creativity in Hong Kong.

“We are extremely proud of all our colleagues,” above and beyond the call of duty in their efforts to says former Deputy Chief Fire Offi cer, Ricky Lo Shu- assist people. nam. “This is the sixth consecutive year that FSD has secured the highest number of public votes and “In May this year, FSD was charged with been presented with the Best Public Image Award searching for an old man reported missing by his Gold Prize. This confi rms that we have successfully family, and the search continued for a couple of garnered recognition from across all sectors of the hours,” says Miss Yung. “A fi re services member, community.” who had taken part in the search whilst on his duty-day, personally resumed the search himself in Above and beyond his off-duty hours, and successfully located and rescued the man in the country park near Sham Elaborating, FSD’s Chief Executive Offi cer, Tseng. The family was extremely grateful and expressed Ellen Yung Oi-lun, cites a recent search-and-rescue their appreciation for the colleague’s persistence operation as an excellent example of dedication and commitment to Hong Kong citizens.” demonstrated by FSD colleagues that often goes 6 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features

Integrating fi re services into the automatic external defi brillators at their workplaces community in order to be able to assist and resuscitate heart attack victims. This has proved to be life-saving Apart from protecting citizens’ lives and property training, as several individuals have assisted members from fi re or other calamities, FSD has also adopted of the public experiencing a heart attack. a more interactive approach in engaging with the community to improve its service. The Department Fire Speed captures the public’s has launched a variety of outreach programmes imagination to enhance public awareness of fi re safety and emergency ambulance services. In late 2010, the Department worked together with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) to produce While the Fire Safety Ambassador Scheme trains a television drama series, Fire Speed, based on volunteers from all sectors of the community to real-life stories about the fi re and ambulance promote fi re safety awareness, FSD provides building services. The series featured the proper use of owners, management companies and community the ambulance service, the Department’s Diving groups with the proper training and correct Unit, the HazMat Team, and various operations in knowledge to prevent fi res under the Building Fire response to fi re, traffi c accidents, building collapses Safety Envoy Scheme. The envoys are encouraged and other emergency situations. to help improve fi re prevention awareness within their own communities and to date the Scheme has The success of Fire Speed was such that it brought attracted over 1,000 participants. in an audience of 1.2 million, representing nearly 90% of Hong Kong’s Chinese-language viewers, FSD also trains staff at various organisations, and ranked at the top of the Television Programme such as housing estates and shopping malls, to Appreciation Index Survey 2010. be “Heart Savers”. The staff members receive an appropriate level of training in the basic use of “We used to hold carnivals to disseminate fi re safety messages. However, we found that television is a more effective means to deliver these messages because it can attract a much larger audience,” says Senior Divisional Offi cer, Lo Chun-man. “And by producing a drama series, we hope our audience can learn something about fi re safety while enjoying the show.”

Following the unprecedented success of the fi rst series, FSD in conjunction with RTHK will produce a follow-up series later this year.

In July this year, FSD also staged a large-scale, televised variety show entitled Ambulance Service Campaign featuring games and pop stars to convey a message concerning the use and abuse of ambulance services and to educate people on their

“Public Access Defi brillator” training course. role if and when they need an ambulance. 7 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity

“We found this a lively and engaging way fl ow of ideas in relation to architectural creativity,” to educate the public about avoiding the misuse says Senior Divisional Offi cer, Tam Tai-keung. “We of emergency ambulance services,” says Senior work very closely with architects, engineers and Assistant Chief Ambulance Offi cer, Chan Shiu- consultants in applying scientifi c fi re engineering kwan. “The show was both positive and productive, principles using a performance-based design conveying a basic but important message to the approach.” public in an amusing and light-hearted way.” This approach takes into consideration an Performance-based and prescriptive individual building’s unique design, its geometry code-compliant designs and the fi re risks posed. FSD uses engineering principles and fl uid dynamics simulations to study The Specialised Service Award Gold Prize was possible fi re scenarios, such as how fl ames and awarded to FSD for introducing a performance- smoke could spread in the building and how people based design approach to buildings in Hong Kong would be able to safely escape if a fi re breaks out. in relation to compliance with fi re After examining the fi re engineering designs, the safety standards. team will only approve those designs that meet all fi re safety requirements. Over the past 50 years, there has been little room for innovative design as most buildings used a New systems cater to modern prescriptive code-compliant design, structures FSD was awarded the which clearly stipulates a minimum “The performance-based design approach is Specialised Service Award Gold Prize in the Civil Service requirement for fi re service becoming more and more popular in Hong Kong,” Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2011. installations and equipment. says Mr Tam. “Over the past fi ve years, FSD has processed some 500 building and railway projects Today’s construction of more modern buildings adopting this approach annually.” has compelled fi re authorities around the world to address the issue of fi re safety in complex structures. He cites Langham Place in Mong Kok as an example of the application of a performance-based “FSD is determined to move with the times and design when compliance with prescriptive fi re codes adopt an out-of-the-box approach and allow free is impractical.

FSD’s customer service motto is “Adapting to the times to provide better service”. 8 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features

Safety key to historic buildings’ revitalisation The performance-based design approach not only benefi ts modern architectural designs, but also contributes to the revitalisation of historic buildings. Mr Tam provides another example of a building for which this approach was adopted: Kom Tong Hall.

“The Edwardian building currently serves as the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum. In this highly valued historic building, sprinklers needed to be installed in accordance with current standards,” says Mr Tam. “FSD considered various innovative options in order to preserve the building’s original design features without compromising fi re safety. Measures applied included restricting activities in exhibition halls and limiting the amount of combustible materials that can be A simulation of fi re at the Atrium Base of Langham Place. placed inside the building which reduces the threat of fi re without the need to install a sprinkler The headroom of the Grand Atrium of Langham system that could result in massive water damage Place is 58 metres – much higher than the provisions and ruin the building’s historical character.” in the prescriptive code. Traditional sprinkler systems are also considered ineffective for an area as large as Having adhered to its customer service motto of the Grand Atrium. Fire engineers therefore designed adapting to the times to provide better service to a long-throw sprinkler system that can be activated the public, FSD’s innovative approach has earned the by infra-red fl ame detectors and control valves. It Department, deservedly, two gold prizes in the Civil was tested and accepted by FSD, and was specially Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2011. designed so that it would be unobtrusive or not easily noticed by shoppers. Also, if a fi re breaks out at the food court, the emanating smoke would be drawn skyward into the aspirating smoke detection system before fi nally exiting the premises through the smoke exhaust system located at roof level. Other fi re safety provisions customised for Langham Place to guarantee public safety include smoke curtains, fi re shutters, digital automatic fi re alarm systems and fi re-rated structural elements.

Performance-based design is used in various revitalisation projects, such as Lui Seng Chun, an architectural combination of “Tong-lau” and classical Italian design. 9 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity

WSD and HD win gold prize for water-saving initiatives

Civil Service Newsletter Editorial Board SECOND only to oxygen as a key resource for sustaining life, clean, pure drinking water is a basic requirement for every human being. As competition for water resources increases and water-saving programmes increasingly gain prominence, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and Housing Department (HD) have been awarded the Gold Prize of the Partnership Award in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2011 for promoting an inter-departmental water-saving project.

Since 2007, WSD and HD have jointly operated a The system allows one tank to run normally while water-saving project that comprises the introduction the other is being cleaned, thus avoiding service of a groundbreaking twin tank system and the interruptions, as well as reducing water wastage due promotion of various water-saving devices and to over-storage of supplies by tenants during service rainwater harvesting systems. interruptions.

As so often happens in life, good can come out “We made reference to the design of service of bad things. In this case, the innovative twin tank reservoirs in Hong Kong, which contain two system devised by WSD and HD was inspired by the compartments,” says WSD Engineer, William Tam interruptions in water supplies experienced by public Man-yiu. “Water supplies remain undisrupted even housing residents during tank cleaning. when one of the reservoir compartments is out of service.” “As anyone would appreciate, the interruption

to water supplies seems to be a fairly minor The concept of the twin tank water supply system originated from the inconvenience, until it happens to you,” says Senior determination of WSD and HD to provide better services to the community and take the lead in water conservation. Building Services Engineer of HD, Stephen Wong Wing-hung. “So, imagine a scenario when hundreds of residents are deprived of water for hours at regular intervals and also know that this is an offi cially sanctioned and unavoidable inconvenience which they have to live with in the future. Not a particularly satisfactory situation, as I am sure most people would agree.”

Innovative twin tank design HD therefore brought up the issue with WSD and the two departments put their heads together, analysed the situation and designed a twin tank system that adopts an alternate operating approach. 10 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features

Since 2008, HD has installed twin tank systems in 15 newly built public housing blocks. The tanks can conserve approximately 1,600 cubic metres of fresh water and 400m³ of fl ushing water each year. By 2013-14, some 70 public housing blocks will benefi t from the introduction of this system and a total of 7,500m³ of potable water, amounting to the capacity of three Olympic-sized swimming pools, could be saved annually. Some private buildings in the design or construction stages have also adopted the twin tank systems.

Water-saving initiatives Since the implementation of the Total Water Management Strategy in 2008, WSD and HD have been looking into the possibilities for achieving water Three-dimensional view of a twin tank in a public housing block showing one of conservation in daily life. the compartments being cleaned.

For instance, HD launched a pilot scheme at Recycling precious rainwater its Headquarters to explore the feasibility and applicability of water-saving devices, such as In order to make good use of natural resources, low-fl ow sensor type water taps and dual-fl ush WSD and HD are also working together to promote cisterns. the use of rainwater harvesting systems in both public and private construction projects. “The trial use of these devices at HD Headquarters has demonstrated a saving of about 5% in the Rainwater collected can be used for irrigation total annual water consumption of the building,” after proper treatment to reduce the use of fresh says Mr Tam. “In fact, more than 460 government water. While WSD was drafting the corresponding buildings and schools in Hong Kong have installed water quality standards to ensure water safety in the these devices, which will conserve an estimated process, HD carried out the design and the fi eld trials 20% of the total amount of water used every year.” at newly built public housing buildings to review the performance of these rainwater harvesting Apart from working with government offi ces systems. and schools, WSD and HD have also collaborated to introduce water-saving devices in public housing “Rainwater harvesting systems have already estates to boost domestic water conservation. been installed in the Choi Tak Shopping Centre and Yau Lai Shopping Centre,” says Mr Wong. “It is “Water heaters used in public housing estates expected to reduce the amount of non-harvested usually require minimum water pressure and fl ow irrigation water used by 30% to 50% annually – rate,” explains Mr Wong. “Colleagues of WSD a quite substantial saving.” and HD conducted fi eld research on a number of different shower heads in order to fi nd out Confronting challenges the desired water fl ow that will ensure heaters to The introduction of various water-saving function properly while achieving water savings initiatives was not straightforward and it presented at the newly built public housing estates. We challenges for both departments. Flexibility in fi nally settled on the Grade 1 shower heads under making appropriate arrangements in line with the the Water Effi ciency Labelling Scheme with their existing regulations has been a fundamental key minimum water fl ow rates at 7 litres per minute.” to success. 11 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity

Rainwater harvesting system.

“A stop valve at the inlet of each compartment is required for the twin tank system to ensure that water will not get into the compartment when it is being cleaned,” says Mr Wong.

“However before 2007, the Hong Kong Waterworks Standard Requirements for Plumbing Installation in Buildings stated that a stop valve could not be installed at the inlet pipes of roof tanks, which were of single-compartment design at that time. This requirement was to preventent excess pressure on the corresponding plumbingng system due to inadvertent closing of the stop valvee while the pump was in operation.”

Mr Tam adds, “WSD therefore adopted

the partnering and fl exible approach with HD WSD implemented the Water Effi ciency Labelling Scheme to throughout the design process. We worked closely encourage citizens to use water-saving devices. together and consulted relevant trade organisations to reach a technical solution in which stop valves are MrMr Tam furtherfurther explainsexpl i that in addition to using used at the inlet pipes together with the installation water-savingwater-savi devices, the promotion of sustainable of an automatic pump tripping device in order to water usage by the public through education and guarantee safety.” promotional programmes is important if Hong Kong is to maintain its precious water resources well in Elaborating further on this point, Mr Wong the future. stresses that while this system has been acknowledged in the Civil Service Outstanding “Driven by a dedication to service, WSD and HD Service Award Scheme and implemented across the have managed to overcome obstacles and deliver newly built public housing estates, this does not a high-quality service to the public that will help signal that the job is done. preserve water resources for generations to come,” says Mr Tam. Mr Wong concurs with a nod of “We are planning to promote this innovative his head. and now-proven system to the trade and developers for its inclusion in more new buildings at the The two departments have highlighted the need construction stage,” says Mr Wong. for citizens to become water-conscious as Hong Kong aims to conserve as much of this life-sustaining “To promote wider use of the twin tank system, resource as possible. As a city that imports much of we have held meetings with the Customer Liaison its fresh water from Guangdong, it is crucial that we Group and conducted seminars with relevant trade continue to develop initiatives that further promote associations,” says Mr Tam. “WSD and HD also meet water conservation and a green and healthy regularly to discuss water-saving initiatives.” environment for all citizens. 12 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features Racial profi le of the civil service surveyed for the fi rst time

Appointments Division, Civil Service Bureau

WITH the support of departmental and grade management, and following consultation with the Staff Sides of the Central Consultative Councils of the civil service and the Equal Opportunities Commission (the Commission), the Civil Service Bureau conducted a survey between March 31 and April 15 this year to gain an appreciation of the composition of the civil service by racial groups.

Civil servants of different races working together.

The survey was the Bureau’s fi rst attempt to study the respondents, 26,446 (99.2%) were of Chinese the racial profi le of the civil service. It was conducted ethnicity, whereas 225 (0.8%) were of non-Chinese on a voluntary and anonymous basis with invitation ethnicities. The fi ve largest ethnic minority groups, in for participation in the survey questionnaire issued descending order of size, were White, Indian, Mixed, to over 150,000 serving civil servants. It was left Pakistani and Bangladeshi. The 225 ethnic minority entirely up to individuals to decide whether they respondents serve in 33 bureaus or departments. The would participate in the survey. There was no need distribution of individual ethnic minority groups in the for participating civil servants to identify themselves civil service survey was broadly comparable to that in in the questionnaire. the 2006 Population By-census.

Participants were required to answer two By comparison, the respective proportion of questions, one on their race and one about ethnic minority respondents in the civil service survey monthly salary. For the question pertaining to race, with a monthly salary above $48,670 and those with participants were required to choose from 15 pre- a monthly salary between $15,875 and $48,670 set choices and one open-ended choice, which were was higher than that of the working ethnic minority exactly the same as those adopted in both the 2006 Permanent Residents in the 2006 Population By-census. Population By-census, as well as the 2011 Population The proportion of ethnic minority respondents with Census. This was to facilitate benchmarking of the a monthly salary below $15,875 in the civil service survey fi ndings with census data as recommended by survey is lower than the territory-wide fi gure. the Commission’s Code of Practice on Employment under the Race Discrimination Ordinance. For the The Bureau plans to conduct another voluntary question on monthly salary, participants were and anonymous survey in 2013. The experience required to choose from three pre-set pay ranges gained from the 2011 survey and the fi ndings of which generally corresponded to those adopted in the 2011 Population Census of Hong Kong to be the civil service pay adjustment mechanism. available in 2012-13 will be taken into account in fi nalising the arrangements. The Bureau will also A total of 26,671 civil servants (17%) of the examine the feasibility of expanding the scope of 156,781 civil servants serving on March 31, 2011 the survey to collect more information, and identify responded by the close of the survey period. Among ways to facilitate participation by staff. 13 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity New world records celebrate 100th anniversary of aviation development in Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department THE year 2011 marks the centenary of powered fl ight in Hong Kong. Led by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), the Hong Kong aviation industry has worked hand in hand to organise a series of celebratory events to be staged throughout the year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of aviation development in Hong Kong.

Director-General of Civil Aviation, Norman Lo Shung-man (front), joining leaders of aviation organisations in pulling a B747.

Through these events, our goals are to promote Hong Kong as an international and regional A line of four aircraft being pulled simultaneously by representatives of the Hong Kong community. The small Zlin aircraft is the fi rst in the line. aviation centre, to promote aviation knowledge among youths and to raise funds for charity. These Henry Tang Ying-yen, two Guinness World Records events have been proactively initiated by CAD and were set in the Aircraft Pull event organised by our the support for these events comes mainly from Department. The fi rst World Record – “The heaviest voluntary contributions from across the aviation combined weight of aircraft pulled simultaneously”– industry and in-kind contributions from supporting was achieved by a good representation from the organisations. In order to achieve our goals, these aviation industry and Hong Kong community. events are targeted at different youth groups or Altogether, there were four teams, comprising more open to the public free of charge. than 300 individual pullers, pulling four aircraft with a total weight of 474.72 tonnes. The teams Among these celebratory events, the Guinness named “Centenary”, “Leaping”, “Forward” and World Record-breaking Aircraft Pull, which took “Next Generation” symbolised the Hong Kong place on March 17, 2011, mobilised manpower aviation industry as vibrant, forward-looking and resources and technical expertise from a large number nurturing of the younger generation. Apart from of organisations, including various government representatives of the aviation industry, the pullers departments. With generous support from Cathay also comprised different sectors of the community, Pacifi c Airways, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Hong including members of the Legislative Council, District Kong Airlines and the Government Flying Service, Councils, and charitable and youth organisations. we were able to use a B747, two Airbus A330s and Our open application invited pullers from the airport a Zlin aircraft for the Pull. community and the public. Eight children born on March 18 between the years 2000 and 2005 were Offi ciated at the Hong Kong International Airport recruited to form the “Next Generation” team and (HKIA) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, pull the Zlin aircraft, a GFS training aircraft. 14 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features

The second World Record – “The heaviest products to commemorate the centenary of powered aircraft pulled over 100 metres by a team” – was fl ight in Hong Kong. achieved at HKIA by 100 members of the disciplined services and security forces. These included the On March 18, 1911, a Farman biplane successfully Customs and Excise Department, Hong Kong Fire fl ew over a beach in Sha Tin. Piloted by Charles Services Department, Government Flying Service, van den Born of Belgium, it became the fi rst ever Hong Kong Police Force, Immigration Department powered fl ight in Hong Kong. The concept of and the Aviation Security Company Limited. A B747 manned fl ight could not have turned from idea weighing 218.56 tonnes was successfully pulled over into reality without this adventurous spirit and 100 metres, breaking a previous record. determination to succeed.

At this point, readers might ask how the pullers Similarly, our unbelievable, innovative attempt managed to pull such a huge metal plane. Sharing to break the Guinness World Records would not the common goal to excel further and determined to have succeeded without vital support and unity break the world record, the pullers tested their limits from across the aviation industry, government to the extreme. Despite the freezing cold and rainy departments, uniform groups and the public. winter early this year, the pullers actively participated in several briefi ngs and trials organised by CAD at Looking back, our success owes much to the airport to practise pulling the aircraft. Regarding the origins of this creative and inspired idea. We pulling techniques, we were fortunate enough to successfully solicited support and established have advice from an FSD offi cer who was familiar collaborations with our aviation stakeholders. With with tug of war. To enable all pullers to learn the our utmost concern for safety, necessary precautions, correct rope pulling techniques, a DVD was produced such as the use of gloves by the pullers, using the by CAD featuring FSD offi cers demonstrating the correct posture when pulling the aircraft and having important techniques. This was distributed to all a HAECO technician onboard each wide-bodied participating pullers. The techniques learnt proved aircraft, were implemented to minimise risks as far very effective and defi nitely contributed to the as possible. However, the event would not have success of the event. proceeded smoothly without the full participation and the collective efforts of the pullers. We owe our thanks to the Airport Authority in assisting the airlines to pre-position the four aircraft We were very pleased that this event attracted at midnight for the pulling event and to the Hong wide media coverage, including the foreign press. Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) for This certainly fulfi lled our aspirations to promote their technical support. Various uniform groups, such Hong Kong as an international and regional aviation as the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps and Auxiliary hub. It was also evident that the co-ordination of Medical Services also provided immense support this megascale, ad-hoc event took up much of our to the event. We would like to thank all event time and effort in addition to our usual workload, sponsors, participants and supporting organisations. but we were honoured to have played our part in In association with the 100th anniversary of aviation promoting Hong Kong’s aviation industry. Above development in Hong Kong, has all, this meaningful Aircraft Pull event helped raise kindly designed and issued a series of philatelic funds for charitable organisations in Tung Chung.

CADCCA colleagues sharing the joyj of achieving two new GuinnessGu World Records.

15 honesty and integrg ity honesty and integrity Features honesty and integrity honesty and integrity

OGCIO first government organisation to attain ISO/IEC 20000 accreditation

Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

ON April 1, 2011, the Offi ce of the Government Chief Information Offi cer (OGCIO) became the fi rst government organisation in Hong Kong to be awarded the International Organisation for Standardisation/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 20000 certifi cation, an internationally recognised standard regarding information technology (IT) service management. Specifi cally, the Award was presented for the data centre services provided by the Central Computer Centre (CCC) of OGCIO.

The Chief Executive Offi cer of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, Michael Lam Po-hing, presenting the ISO/IEC 20000 certifi cate to the Government Chief Information Offi cer, Stephen Mak Hung-sung (right).

Working party of CCC with OGCIO senior management at the CCC services certifi cate presentation ceremony. You may be aware of, or are actually using, the services provided by CCC in your day-to-day work, such as e-mail, Internet access and information dissemination services through government websites. These services require a reliable and secure environment as provided by CCC to support their round-the-clock operations.

ISO/IEC 20000 To guarantee the provision of reliable and secure services to its clients, CCC in late 2009 launched an initiative to seek ISO/IEC 20000 accreditation, which is a continuous process of quality assurance. Under ISO/IEC 20000, a comprehensive framework is defi ned for addressing various processes for IT service management. These processes include continuity and availability management, information security management, confi guration management, incident handling and business relationships management. 16 honesty and integrity honesty and integrity honesty and integrity hhonesty and integrity Features

The ultimate objective of ISO/IEC 20000 is to ensure completed in February 2011, and the offi cial audit the delivery of stable, reliable and high-quality IT was passed in March 2011. services through the effective execution of the various management processes. This accreditation exercise was a joyful journey for all CCC colleagues, who were proud to have CCC’s journey to ISO/IEC 20000 taken part in this exercise and successfully passed accreditation the audit in a single attempt. It was a wonderful and valuable experience for colleagues involved. In relation to ISO/IEC 20000, a systematic

framework was developed for managing CCC’s various services. As staff training is essential Experience sharing welcomed to the successful implementation of IT service A total of 15 organisations in Hong Kong, management, all CCC colleagues were trained in including OGCIO, have now obtained ISO/IEC 20000 IT service management. Some of them were even accreditation. In a wider context, 10 government certifi ed in advanced IT service management. agencies in other Asian economies have also obtained this accreditation. With the framework in place and colleagues equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge, As the issue of the provision of quality CCC proceeded to change its work processes and services has recently been receiving increased practise IT service management in accordance attention, it is expected that more organisations, with ISO 20000. As CCC employs some 100 be they government departments or commercial individuals, changing the mode of operation of organisations, will wish to pursue ISO/IEC 20000 such a large group of people was not an easy task accreditation. CCC would be delighted to share many would imagine. With the concerted efforts of its knowledge and experience with those who are CCC colleagues, new processes were successfully interested. If you would like to know more about developed and implemented in September 2010, a our ISO/IEC 20000 initiative, kindly contact CCC pre-audit to verify ISO/IEC 20000 compliance was colleagues or visit the website of CCC at http:// www.ogcio.gov.hk/eng/infra/eccc.htm.

17 commitment to the rule of law commiitment to thhe rulle of llaw commiitment to thhe rulle of llaw Close up commiitmentt to thhe rulle of llaw RTHK launches new season TV programmes

Radio Television Hong Kong THE new season of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) television programmes began in late September. This year, the promotional slogan is “You make RTHK sparkle”. The word “You” refers not only to the Hong Kong citizens, but also the community and the government organisations in partnership with RTHK. RTHK’s Management team at the TV programme presentation event.

A programme presentation was held at RTHK the Labour and Welfare Bureau and Women’s showcasing more than 30 new television programmes Commission for Women with Dreams; Development under different themes. A number of representatives Bureau and Construction Industry Council for A from partner organisations attended to show Dream Comes True; for Cultural their support, including Director of Immigration, Heritage 2012; Major Sports Events Committee for Chan Kwok-ki; Assistant Director of the Independent Glamour of Sports; Asia-Pacifi c Broadcasting Union, Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Community CreateHK, Education Bureau and Innovation and Relations Department, Raymond Ng Kwok-ming; Technology Commission for Robocon 2012; Labour Assistant Director of the Fire Services Department and Welfare Bureau for Extraordinaire – Stage of (FSD), Ng Kuen-chi; Commissioner for Rehabilitation Ability; Immigration Department for Immigration of the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Stephen Sui Wai- Department 50th Anniversary Special; Civil Service keung; Head of CreateHK, Jerry Liu Wing-leung; Bureau for Civil Service Outstanding Service Chairperson of the Women’s Commission, Sophia Awards; Leisure and Cultural Services Department Kao Ching-chi; and Principal Assistant Secretary of for City Hall 50th Anniversary Special; Hong Kong Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Freely Cheng Kei. Police Force for Police Magazine; as well as Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau for For the fi rst time ever RTHK has joined hands LegCo Election Special and DC Election Special. with more than 20 community and government organisations on television productions this season. RTHK television programmes are broadcast The latest instalment in the long-running series on ATV Home at 7pm from Monday to Friday, ICAC Investigators 2011, and last year’s debut and on TVB Jade on Saturday and Sunday. The drama, Fire Speed, are included on the list. The programmes are also webcast live and archived at two well-received dramas refl ect real case stories, http://tv.rthk.hk. presenting the public with an opportunity to understand the challenges faced by ICAC and FSD colleagues. Other RTHK programmes were produced in collaboration with various government departments and other organisations, including

A programme presentation was held earlier at RTHK, in which a number of representatives from partner organisations attended to show their support. 18 dedication, professionalism and diligence in serving the community dddediicatition,, prop ffessioi nalliism anddd diligeng ce iin servini g thhe communitityy ddedication, prp offessiionalliism and diligeg nce iin serviingg thhe communiittyy Personalities Volunteers exchange insights to foster caring communities

Customs and Excise Department Volunteer Team

Civil service volunteers from Macao and Hong Kong gathered together.

THE Customs and Excise Department Volunteer Team (CEDVT) organised a volunteer exchange programme in Hong Kong on April 16, 2011 and received the civil service volunteers from Macao to participate in it. The programme comprised a visit to a residential centre for the elderly and a luncheon for the civil service volunteer teams of Hong Kong and Macao to share experiences.

Visiting the elderly its experiences in organising volunteer services in Hong Kong. More than 50 civil service volunteers from the Municipal Council of Macao Volunteer Team and The function concluded with the presentation CEDVT visited the Hong Kong Society for the Aged of a souvenir to the Macao Civil Service Volunteer (SAGE) Quan Chuen Home for the Elderly on Hong Team for their enthusiastic participation in volunteer Kong Island on a sunny day. Apart from performing services in Hong Kong. It was a precious occasion for a mimic show and singing old songs, the volunteers both Hong Kong and Macao civil service volunteer from Macao also played games with the elderly teams to co-operate in promoting volunteerism in and gave them gift packs. The visit was fi lled with the civil service. laughter and warmth. Luncheon with civil service volunteer teams Following the visit, a luncheon was held at the Customs Headquarters Building. Members of the volunteer teams of the Highways Department,

Land Registry, Buildings Department, Rating and A volunteer from CEDVT Valuation Department, Companies Registry, Water singing along with the elderly. Supplies Department, Offi ce of the Government Chief Information Offi cer and Lands Department * Crossover Volunteer Programme (CVP) is a self-initiated programme actively participated in the event and exchanged their within the government department volunteer teams. Its objective valuable experiences with the Macao volunteers. The is to gather resources from different department volunteer teams Highways Department made a presentation about and provide diverse services to the community. 19 government departments have joined the programme. If you are interested in the development of the Crossover Volunteer Team* joining CVP, please contact Roger Wong Yan-lok of the Development among various civil service volunteer teams in Hong Bureau at 9013 9477 or Alice Ho Mei-ling of the Customs and Excise Kong. The Water Supplies Department also shared Department Volunteer Team at 9026 8386. 19 dedicationn, professionalism anddd diligence in servingtg the community ddedication, prp offessiionalliism and diligeg nce iin serviingg thhe communiittyyiionsas andd actiions Personalities dedication, professionalism and diligence in serving the community Sport an excellent metaphor for life Civil Service Newsletter Editorial Board

RUNNING enthusiast, Ida Lee Bik-sai, took up the sport more than 10 years ago and shares her thoughts on how running shapes both her life in general and her attitude towards work.

Ms Lee (second left) has been actively participating in Oxfam Trailwalker for the past 10 years.

Ms Lee, the Principal Assistant Secretary they still hold the record for the mixed team category for Commerce and Economic Development (old course). Ms Lee fi nished the 2009 Trailwalker in (Communications and Technology), insists on just 13 hours 44 minutes and was the fi rst female allocating time in her busy working schedule to indulge runner to cross the fi nishing line within 14 hours. in running every week. Also, whenever possible, Ms She was also the fi rst runner-up in 2008 Japan Lee tries not to miss any opportunity to compete in Oxfam Trailwalker, and third in the Sundown Ultra- large-scale or international running events in order to marathon in Singapore in 2009 and 2011. face, and hopefully conquer, new challenges. “I am inspired by the sport both in my life and In August, Ms Lee completed the Ultra-trail du my work,” explains Ms Lee. “This is not a sport that Mont-Blanc, a competition covering around 170 emphasises personal performance. For example, kilometres spread over France, Italy and Switzerland. it requires a team of four to complete the 100km Maclehose Trail. To achieve this, we need a team “It is just great to test your own limits and scale strategy. Team members have to support and new heights of achievement. You just cannot put such encourage each other to overcome unforeseen excitement into words!” she enthuses, recounting diffi culties. Team spirit is also one of the important her experience of running non-stop for 44 hours over qualities that we civil servants are proud of.” rugged mountains and in inclement weather. Ms Lee shares with us her understanding of Running helps develop one’s determination in team spirit. “To work as a team does not merely overcoming adversities and Ms Lee says this is very mean lending a helping hand to your team members. useful in her civil service career. More importantly, we have to be humble and “In running, no matter how hard it is, a step understand our own personal limits, and to know forward is a step towards the fi nishing line,” says Ms when and how to seek and accept assistance from Lee. “In tackling diffi cult tasks at work, addressing a our teammates. We should never put individual glory problem, be it big or small, also means that you are ahead of the success of the team. This is especially a step closer to achieving the ultimate goal, and I relevant in our work done for the Government. never give up halfway.” Everyone fulfi ls their role in line with their own ability and position and with a common goal.” Ms Lee’s fondness for running was triggered by her participation in the Oxfam Trailwalker in 2001. With the principles of running as her metaphor Since then, she and her teammates have been the for life, Ms Lee will undoubtedly continue making fi rst to cross the line in different categories of the great strides in sport and at work well into the Oxfam Trailwalker over the past few years. Together future. 20 accountability for decisions and actions accounttabilittyy for deciisiions andd acttiions accountability forf decisionsas and actions accountabib lity for decisions and actions Pensioners’ Corner Retirement presents opportunity to pursue lifelong interests

Civil Service Newsletter Editorial Board

THE prospect of impending retirement was enthusiastically embraced by the former Director of Civil Engineering and Development, John Chai Sung-veng. The 2011 Silver Bauhinia Star recipient, after decades of loyal service, can now plan to do exactly what he wants, whenever he wants to do it, with his newfound abundance of free time.

Making the right career decision I was obviously not aware at that stage that I would end up in the job I recently retired from and one that “I must say at the outset that I had a wonderful I thoroughly enjoyed,” says Mr Chai. career,” says Mr Chai, who retired in January this year. “However, this was due more to pure chance and a fortunate decision made before enrolling to study at university than anything else.”

Life is full of uncertainties and the unexpected. Mr Chai recalls sitting next to a friend at secondary school. At one point, the friend turned to him and asked, “So, what do you want to be when you fi nish studying?” Mr Chai said he would probably take up a teaching post, while his friend told him that he wanted to be an engineer. It turned out that Mr Chai became an engineer and his friend became

a professor. Mr Chai (fourth left) with his friends in the good old days.

Refl ecting back on his decision to become an engineer, which was to infl uence the rest of his life Employment options and career, Mr Chai recalls that while he wanted to When he graduated in 1973 from the University study engineering, he was not certain which aspect of Hong Kong, Mr Chai soon realised that the of engineering he wanted to specialise in. economy was not in a great state although the demand for civil engineers was still high. Hoping to “I fi nally decided to study civil engineering at gain more exposure to the type of work he wanted university, as it is much more related to daily life, to specialise in, Mr Chai chose to join a consultant and the thought of being involved in the ongoing fi rm because most major public works projects were development of our city also appealed, even though contracted out to private fi rms at that time. 21 accountabbillity for decisions andd actions accountability for decisions and actions accountabilityy for decisionsas and actions Pensioners’ Corner accountability for decisions and actions

“This was the way things were done decades “As a result, it was decided to merge the then ago. The fi rm I joined was a major civil engineering Civil Engineering Department and the then Territory consultant fi rm in Hong Kong. I was fortunate Development Department into one department enough to be involved in the called the Civil Engineering and Development project, the fi rst highway of its kind in Hong Kong, Department (CEDD) in 2004,” recalls Mr Chai. “In which was a major milestone in the development of 2005, I became the Director, a post I was happily the city,” says Mr Chai. ensconced in until my retirement.”

In October 1978, Mr Chai joined the civil service, Casting his mind back, Mr Chai says that one of as the Government had by that time expanded the the most satisfying projects he was involved with as size of the civil engineering establishment. the Director of Civil Engineering and Development related to the Greening Master Plan (GMP) for “At this stage, the then Public Works Department Hong Kong. was involved with the construction of the and the widening of . I “In the past seven years, GMP has been could see a very promising career path ahead of me, successfully implemented,” says Mr Chai. “Across as many other major infrastructure projects were Hong Kong’s urban areas this has resulted in the also on our books at the time.” planting of thousands of trees and millions of shrubs, which has done much to beautify various districts When Mr Chai joined the Government, one of and create a greener environment, and the feedback the major projects he initially worked on was the from the District Councils and the public has been Hill Road Flyover, which linked Pokfulam and the extremely positive.” waterfront of Western District. Another initiative that Mr Chai is understandably “It was an amazing project to work on,” says Mr proud of relates to promoting recycling of waste Chai. “The alignment of the road actually followed generated by local construction activities. the natural terrain, and the buildings on both sides were so close to the fl yover that we could actually The Department was responsible for managing greet the residents there while working.” two fi ll banks, one in Tseung Kwan O and one in Tuen Mun where construction and demolition (C&D) Mr Chai later became the chief engineer of the materials can be temporarily stored for future re-use project. The scale of the project was and appropriate useful materials sorted out on-site so impressive that it attracted many world experts in for recycling as aggregate for road sub-base and long span bridge building to gather in Hong Kong. drainage layers. Today, the Tsing Ma Bridge still ranks as the longest span suspension bridge in the world carrying both Mr Chai was also responsible for the Central and road and railway traffi c. Wan Chai Reclamation. The main purpose of the reclamation is to develop a bypass from Central to Departments merge Wan Chai, connecting Island West (Rumsey Street Flyover) and Island East (). In 2003, the SARS epidemic was seriously It will promote the effi cient movement of traffi c impacting the city and forward projections regarding into and out of the central business districts on the the economy were pessimistic. The Government had northern side of , eliminating much to take various initiatives to cut down expenditure of the current congestion. and improve effi ciency.

22 accountability for decisions and actions accounttabilittyy for deciisiions andd acttiions accountability forf decisionsas and actions accountabib lity for decisions and actions Pensioners’ Corner

“Hong Kong has undergone major development or teammates. But you also need luck to win a in the past few decades and I do not see this slowing tournament,” says Mr Chai. “In the past 10 years, down in the foreseeable future,” says Mr Chai. I have been too busy with my work to play bridge “However, innovation is the key to Hong Kong’s and I miss it a lot. Now that I am retired, I will devote success as a unique world metropolis and I am more time to it again.” eager to see how the city continues to grow in the coming decades.” Mr Chai feels very grateful to his wife, who spends most of her time accompanying him.

“My wife used to have a busy social life and has many companions including mahjong players. Now she is worried that I cannot get used to my retirement, so she abandoned her interest to spend more time with me,” says Mr Chai. “I am still trying Mr Chai participating in the to adapt to my retirement life.” Celebrity Tournament of the Inter-city Bridge Championships. Mr Chai is now very busy with his lifelong interests. Apart from playing bridge, he also Retirement beckons enthusiastically indulges in his other passion – Finally, Mr Chai has an opportunity to discuss the singing! He is now receiving professional vocal issue that is very dear to his heart, namely, his plans training lessons. To maintain his physical fi tness he for his own retirement. keeps playing badminton as regular exercise.

An enthusiastic traveller, Mr Chai took a cruise in the Middle East, starting off from Dubai, and journeyed via the Red Sea to the Mediterranean after he retired in January.

“The Middle East and the Mediterranean have always fascinated me, and I now have the time to relax and enjoy this part of the world that offers so much in the way of history and architecture. Travelling on a cruise is the most leisurely way to enjoy new places, as you are in a new port when you wake up each morning, and cruising eliminates the necessity of making other travel arrangements, such as packing and unpacking of luggage,” says Mr Chai.

Mr Chai is also a lifelong and very enthusiastic player of bridge. In fact, Mr Chai won a bridge championship in 1990 that earned him a business- class fl ight ticket to Europe.

“Bridge is a fascinating game and requires Mr Chai plays badminton every week with building a mutual understanding with your partner his friends to maintain physical fi tness. 23 imppartiallityy in thhe execution off pubp bllic ffunctions impartiality in the execution of public functions

impartiallity in thhe execution off pubbllic ffunctions iimppartilialiity iin thhe executiion off pubp blilic ffunctiions Health iimpartilialiity iin thheee executiion off pubblilic ffunctiions

Guide to a balanced life

Staff Relations Division, PRESSURE Civil Service Bureau PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE

PRESSUREPRESSURE PRESSURE DILIGENT and committed, Ka-ming PRESSURE PRESSURE has worked in the Government for years. Recently, he received a promotion and was transferred to a new post requiring him to undertake work he was not familiar with. Faced with an increased workload and heavier responsibilities, Ka-ming felt he was under quite a lot of pressure.

Not wanting to let down his superiors and employees in Hong Kong work long hours every family, he chose to stay behind in the offi ce after day, leaving little time for leisure and upsetting work to plough through old fi les in an effort to the balance between work and life. Thus emerges familiarise himself in his new job as quickly as possible. a range of problems like insomnia, fatigue and For this reason, he seldom stayed at home for dinner depression. with his family and spent less time meeting friends. Workouts or movies became luxurious pastimes he Apart from work, there are other aspects barely had time for. He would rather save the time of life: family, friends, health, hobbies, further for his offi ce work. One day, Ka-ming fell ill and, studies, travelling, and many more. With your time reluctantly, had to stay home for a rest. Looking appropriately allocated and your enjoyment of the at his own refl ection in the mirror, Ka-ming saw fun they bring, you can strike a balance between a worn-out face. Memories of the good old days work and life and live happily. came fl ashing back. He recalled having a nice chat with his family over dinner at home almost every To achieve this balance, here are some helpful tips: evening, followed by a relaxing time spent watching television. He remembered the wonderful meals 1 Good time management gets things done he used to have with his friends after their weekly During hectic times, try to prioritise your tasks. football games. These, however, were soon replaced Note tags and a desk diary are useful tools to by the images of fi les piled up in the offi ce, endless remind you of the jobs that need to be followed meetings and disputes among his subordinates. up. Having taken care of the top priorities, you An instant feeling of uneasiness came upon him. may then proceed with the rest and fi nish them Anxiety was looming. “What am I supposed to do?” off in an orderly manner. This way, you are in he asked his refl ection in the mirror. control of your time, and will be able to manage your jobs well, however complicated they may Ka-ming’s case is not uncommon in Hong Kong. be. You are also less likely to be overwhelmed by According to past surveys on work-life balance, the pace of work. 24 imppartialityy in the execution of pubp lic functions impartiality in the execution of public functions impartiallity in thhe execution off pubbllic ffunctions impartiallity in thhe execution off pubbllic ffunctions impartiality in theee execution of public functions Health

2 Think positive and wear a smile kinds of problems you are facing. Try to talk to a Looking at things positively and objectively trusted working partner, family member, friend can keep you from becoming pessimistic and or professional counsellor. Besides calming your irrational. There are ways to nurture a positive emotions, the feedback and experiences of and optimistic mind-set. Try to think of two things others can very often help you fi nd a way out of every day that make you feel happy or grateful. your own problems. For example: “Traffi c is usually congested at this hour of the day, but this morning it is so smooth With a balance struck between work and life that I can spare time to buy a nice breakfast and progress achieved in various pursuits, one will be before going to offi ce. It is great!” Starting sure to sustain physical and mental health, remaining the day with a grateful heart makes you feel upbeat and cheerful. So, go for a work-life balance that everything is going to be fi ne, and life is and enjoy life. Should you encounter problems, wonderful. whether they are related to work, family, interpersonal relations or emotions, you are welcome to call the 3 Daily exercise keeps you in shape hotline counselling service on stress management Our brains secrete endorphins when we for civil servants and non-civil service contract staff. exercise, creating a euphoric feeling. Persistence Professional counsellors are there to listen and help. in working out for at least 30 minutes a day Colleagues can call 2191 7299 between 2pm and keeps you energetic and brimming with vitality. 10pm from Mondays to Fridays and between 9am Physically and mentally healthy, you can stand and 1pm on Saturdays, except public holidays. up to any challenges in work and in life. Calls received outside the service hours or when the line is busy will be directed via paging service 4 Have a nice chat with your family to the counsellors, who will return calls as soon To fl ourish, family relationships needs nurturing, as possible. in the same way that a seed needs adequate sunshine and watering to grow. Spending at least 30 minutes every day with your family members is good. It can be over a meal, a cup of tea, watching a television programme or a walk in the park together. This will help build a sense of belonging and promote the warmth of the family. If you do not have much time to spend with your family because you are working shifts or long hours, a telephone call, an e-mail or a text message may help. WORK LIFE 5 Getting troubles off your chest makes life easier We all experience ebbs and fl ows in life. You are probably not the only one to experience the 25 imppartiallityy in thhe execution off pubp bllic ffunctions impartiality in the execution of public functions

impartiallity in thhe execution off pubbllic ffunctions iimppartilialiity iin thhe executiion off pubp blilic ffunctiions Health iimpartilialiity iin thheee executiion off pubblilic ffunctiions A guide for hikers Department of Health

HIKING is an exercise with both physical and mental benefi ts. It not only improves physical fi tness, but also helps you relax. To ensure a pleasant and safe journey when hiking, you should take note of the following points.

Preparation before the hike: Plan your hike ▲ Choose a hiking trail suited to the strength and ability of your fellow hikers. ▲ All hikers must be briefed on the proposed route to be taken and any possible dangers should be identifi ed and discussed at length. ▲ To ensure safety, at least one person in the party should be a trained or experienced hiker. Other necessary items ▲ Before setting out, inform family members and ▲ Carry enough food and water for the hike. the nearest police station of your route and the approximate time you expect to return. ▲ Prepare an emergency medical kit containing sticking plasters, bandages, cotton swabs, cotton balls, ▲ Practise basic life-saving codes and fi rst aid techniques, disinfectant, etc. so that you know how to handle an accident should one occur. ▲ Carry a detailed map of the proposed hiking area and a compass. ▲ People suffering from chronic diseases, such as heart disease or asthma, should consult a doctor on ▲ Carry a fl ashlight, whistle and ropes in case you get lost. whether hiking is advisable, and if so, whether any ▲ If possible, carry a fully-charged mobile phone and special precautions should be taken. walkie-talkie for emergency use.

Weather conditions The principles of hiking safety: ▲ If the weather is bad, unstable or too hot, do not go Take note of your environment hiking. ▲ Outdoor activities are greatly affected by the weather. ▲ If there has been recent heavy rain, wait for a few During hiking, listen to the weather report on your days until the weather has stabilised before setting radio from time to time to learn about any changes in off on a hike. This can minimise the possibility of the weather. encountering mudslides and fl ash fl oods, both ▲ Pay attention to the terrain during your hike. Avoid potential risks to life. steep inclines and deep pools of water in order to prevent falls or drowning. Preparing what to take with you: ▲ When there is a hill fi re, stay calm and leave the Suitable equipment affected area as soon as possible. ▲ Clothing should be suitable for weather conditions. During summer, choose clothing that absorbs Personal safety perspiration and allows air to circulate, for example, ▲ Never wander off on your own. clothes made from cotton. In winter, make sure your ▲ Avoid hiking in dense woodland or tall undergrowth clothing is adequate to keep out the cold, keep you in order to avoid getting lost or being bitten by a snake. dry and also allow freedom of movement. ▲ Do not eat wild fruit or drink from streams in order to ▲ Wear hiking shoes as they protect feet from cold, reduce the chance of poisoning or infection. damp, fatigue and injury. ▲ Do not tease wild cats, dogs or monkeys, as they may ▲ Take a hat, umbrella and/or windbreaker to prepare attack you. for weather changes. ▲ Never smoke, as this may cause a hill fi re. 26 political neutrality political neutrality pop litical neuttralittyy political neuttralitty politiical neutrality Basic Law Logo Design Competition to boost promotion of the Basic Law

Civil Service Training and Development Institute, Civil Service Bureau TO stimulate civil servants’ interest in understanding the Basic Law and to create a distinct image for promoting activities pertaining to the Basic Law among civil servants, the Civil Service Training and Development Institute held a “Logo Design Competition for Promotion of the Basic Law among Civil Servants” in May this year. (From left) Lee Ah-tat, Chan Yin-hing, Lo Sze-hei, and the representative of the Education Bureau, winner of the “Department with the Most Active Participation Award”, Pearl Kong Pao-chi

The competition attracted more than 100 entries from 38 bureaus/ departments. All entries were very impressive and extremely well thought out. In June, the Working Group on Civil Servants of the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee Members of the Working Group on Civil Servants of the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee adjudicating entries of the competition. judged all the entries and selected (From left) Dr John Yeung Hin-chung; Convenor of the Working Group, Ma Fung-kwok; Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service, Shirley Lam Shuet-lai; Professor Wong Yuk-shan; the winners of the fi rst, second and Maria Tam Wai-chu; Assistant Solicitor General of Department of Justice, Llewellyn Mui Kei-fat third prizes.

As a special commendation to the department First Prize Winner submitting the most entries, the Civil Service Bureau Designer: Lee Ah-tat of the specifi cally established the “Department with the Lands Department Most Active Participation Award”, which was won

by the Education Bureau. Explanatory note: The green human fi gures represent the civil servants, with the cubic design symbolising the close relationship between the Basic Law and various facets of our society. The chain-like human fi gures denote an atmosphere of mutual learning and promotion of the Basic Law among civil servants.

Second Prize Winner Third Prize Winner Designer: Lo Sze-hei of the Radio Television Hong Kong Designer: Chan Yin-hing of the Radio Television Hong Kong

Explanatory note: Incorporating the design elements of the regional emblem of Hong Explanatory note: Kong, the logo depicts fi ve petals of Pentas genus fl owering plant An open copy of the Basic Law, like fertile soil, grows and nurtures a fruit stacked together to form the shape of a fl ame. The red human fi gure tree that symbolises the civil service team. The fruit on the tree represents metaphorically represents civil servants promoting the Basic Law. the nine chapters of the Basic Law.

To view more winning entries, please log in at the Cyber Learning Centre Plus at http://www.csb.gov.hk/clc → “The Basic Law Corner” → “Basic Law Promotional Activities” 27 dedicationn, professionalism anddd diligence in servingtg the community dedication, prp ofessionalism and diligeg nce in servingg the communityy Information dedication, professionalism and diligence in serving the community Two-pronged approach to combat infl ation: Subsidies and enhanced social assistance Civil Service Training and Development Institute, Civil Service Bureau

SOARING prices hit the poor the hardest. To alleviate the hardship caused by rising prices among the more impoverished sections of the population, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with other departments, jointly issued a “Notice on the Establishment of a Mechanism pegging Social Assistance and Security Standards to Price Increases” on March 2 this year. To lessen the impact of infl ation, local authorities of the Mainland were asked to act in accordance with the requirements therein, namely, “clear- cut responsibilities to improve people’s livelihood, granting subsidies if price fl uctuations are short-term and adjusting security standards if prices continue to rise”.

The Mainland’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) As of the end of August this year, 27 of the 31 entered the “6.0 era” in June this year and climbed provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities further to 6.5% in July, setting a new record high for have already pegged social assistance and security the 37-month period since July 2008. The continuing standards to infl ation. rise in prices of daily necessities, consisting primarily of agricultural by-products, is the culprit behind the recent surge in CPI. 28 dedication, prp ofessionalism and diligeg nce in servingg the communityy dedication,, prop fessionalism and diligeng ce in serving the communityy ddeddication, prp offessiionalliism and ddilligeg nce iin serviingg thhe communiittyy Information

Granting of subsidies based on treatment scheme (special care and treatment for local situations servicemen and family members). Coupled with the unemployed population, the number of benefi ciaries Under state regulations, subsidies should not be will be enormous. uniformly granted across the country, but should be based on the basic cost of living in different localities Subsidy standards: offsetting or the monthly increase in CPI. Most of the 27 the impact of price increases provinces that have granted subsidies will adjust the amounts based on an index of the basic cost of living According to the state’s directives on subsidy for urban residents, or CPI. Nine provinces, including arrangements, temporary subsidies will be paid Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou, Gansu, to people living in poverty if price increases are Sichuan, Hebei and Nei Monggol, have stipulated short-term, whereas social assistance and security the condition that only when prices increase by 3% standards will be raised if prices keep on rising. The or more for three consecutive months, compared subsidy standards should be set at a level that can with the same period last year, will they provide offset the actual impact of price increases on the subsidies, while Hainan, Liaoning and Henan have livelihood of low income groups. set the trigger at 4%. In Shanghai, if the quarter-on- quarter increase of the food costs index within CPI Based on the established mechanism, local reaches or exceeds 10%, allowances will be handed authorities would raise social assistance and security out. Guangdong will do the same if food prices rise standards across the board when prices have climbed by more than 7% for three consecutive months to a certain level. At present, there are basically two compared with the same period last year. scenarios in which the mechanism operates. In the fi rst scenario, temporary subsidies will be granted Targeted recipients for a certain period of time before adjustments to various security standards are made. In the case According to the statistics of the Ministry of of , temporary subsidies will be granted for up Civil Affairs, the number of benefi ciaries across to six consecutive months. The second scenario the Mainland as at July 2011 is close to 90 million. relates to the launch of studies on security standards Targeted recipients mainly include about 23 million and methods of providing subsidies after the people covered by the urban minimum living accumulated price increases have reached a certain allowance system, over 52 million covered by level. In Hainan, when CPI has surged to 15% or the rural minimum living allowance system, over above, the mechanism will be initiated. 5.5 million benefi tting from the fi ve-guarantees system in rural areas (guaranteeing food, clothing, Source of information: Renmin Wang housing, medical treatment and burial expenses), (http://society.people.com.cn) and over 6.2 million assisted by the state preferential Senior staff on the move

Name Post Effective from Clement Cheung Wan-ching Commissioner of Customs and Excise September 1, 2011 Richard Yuen Ming-fai Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) September 9, 2011 Roy Tang Yun-kwong Director of Broadcasting September 15, 2011 Lily Ou-yang Commissioner for Census and Statistics September 24, 2011 Andy Chan Chor-kam Director of Fire Services October 1, 2011 Jessie Ting Yip Yin-mei Postmaster General October 3, 2011 Leung Koon-kee Director of Architectural Services October 7, 2011 Alan Siu Yu-bun Government Property Administrator October 31, 2011 Francis Liu Hon-por Director of Marine November 2, 2011 29