If your mission is to make Hong Kong a better place and hope to deliver quality service to the community, then joining the civil service is a career move to consider.
There are more than 500 administrative officers (AO) and about 2,400 executive officers (EO) serving in 12 bureaus and government departments. The responsibilities of an AO include assisting in formulating and promoting government policies, representing the government in district offices and providing frontline services for the betterment of local communities.
'From the minimum-wage legislation [and] the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District, to the production of the [recent] political reform package, the work of AOs often affects society,' says Billy Woo Tak-ying, assistant secretary for the civil service (administrative service), adding that the most aspiring officers with directorate potential may fill leading positions in the government.
EOs provide human and financial resource management, administrative support and systems planning to government units, and offer direct services to the public, boards and councils.
Brendan Au Ho-wah, CEO for training and development, at the general grades office, says job rotation is a prominent feature of AOs and EOs, appointed to a wide variety of posts at regular intervals to gain exposure and experience, and develop different skills to prepare for career advancement.
When Au was appointed an EO in 1984, he was posted at the Department of Justice, overseeing its recruitment scheme.