Latest news with #bureaucrats
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Civil servants in Hong Kong have to move with the times
Hong Kong's civil service has, with justification, been described by the government as the backbone of the administration, helping develop and execute policies while providing public services. But the need for the more than 173,000 civil servants to perform well and provide good value for money is as important now as it has ever been, as the city faces new challenges and a big budget deficit. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has championed a 'result-oriented' approach for the government and is determined civil servants will also meet high standards. Lee recently revealed plans to introduce a new accountability system for the civil service to complement the existing one for principal officials. There are, as yet, few details. But he said underperforming senior bureaucrats may face a pay freeze or other punitive measures. The aim is to improve leadership and policy implementation. It is a welcome development. Hong Kong's civil servants had their pay frozen for a year in April as part of measures to tackle the deficit, but rises for individuals are still possible within the pay bands. Civil servants are well paid and enjoy job security and generous fringe benefits. Their pay structure is rigid and outdated. There is much room for reform. Public servants already undergo annual appraisals to identify outstanding and underperforming individuals. Those falling short are given support to help them improve. There is a mechanism for the retirement of persistent underperformers. But a more rigorous and sophisticated system is needed to enhance accountability and ensure standards are raised. The new arrangements must be carefully structured, with clear objectives, to ensure they are transparent and fair. The system should include assessment of much-needed collaboration between different branches of the service as well as performance within departments. Lee has highlighted the need for reform of the bureaucracy in his policy addresses. Steps taken include amending the civil service code and introducing new awards for high performers. The civil service needs to modernise to improve efficiency, embrace new technology, and better meet the needs of the community. The new accountability system will help, but the process of reform must continue.
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's officials scramble to comply with Xi's austerity rules as inspectors come knocking
As Elon Musk 's so-called Department of Government Efficiency was shaking up federal agencies in America with deep spending cuts, bureaucrats in China were also feeling the heat. Since mid-March, thousands of Chinese officials have been scrambling to comply with President Xi Jinping 's austerity orders – making sure their offices are modest, their meal receipts are in order and returning any lavish gifts – as inspectors carry out checks. The campaign has been running since 2012 and takes aim at overspending among Communist Party and government bodies. It covers spending and protocol in areas ranging from official events to buildings and travel, with the goals of improving the ruling party's image, stamping out corruption and cutting wasteful spending. Analysts say it also has to do with making sure 'every cent' is spent wisely so that China can prevail in its rivalry with the United States. It is also seen as a way to find promising cadres who follow the rules and show political loyalty, and could be candidates for promotion. But questions have been raised over the effectiveness of the campaign given the strict control over the media in China and with no independent watchdog, as well as the difficulty of enforcing its detailed rules on a vast scale.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Calgary's $276M budget surplus has mayor asking questions
Calgary has had an average of $158 million in surpluses over the past decade. Mayor Jyoti Gondek says bureaucrats should be less conservative when drawing up budgets and more realistic about the money that's needed to balance the books.
