Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (third right) meets with Executive Vice-President of the National Academy of Governance Xie Chuntao (third left), to exchange views on further strengthening collaboration on June 15, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the National Academy of Governance signed an agreement on Thursday for the training of the city’s senior civil servants to enhance their knowledge about the country’s governance policies.   

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu met with Executive Vice-President of the National Academy of Governance Xie Chuntao at the Central Government Offices and witnessed the signing of the agreement, according to an HKSAR government statement. 

The Civil Service Bureau invited Xie to deliver a talk on "The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation"

The program aims to enhance participants' knowledge about the country's policies of governance, deepen their understanding of the country's political system and formulation of important policies, and strengthen their communication and contact with senior Chinese mainland officials for further mutual exchanges. 

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The program will be held on the mainland and includes lectures and site visits, with contents covering the Constitution, the Basic Law, safeguarding national security and the country's latest policies and developments.

Before the signing ceremony, Lee met with the delegation from the NAG led by Xie to exchange views on further strengthening collaboration.

The Civil Service Bureau invited Xie to deliver a talk on "The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation", reviewing the glorious journey of the CPC which united and led the people in continuous exploration and relentless struggle towards the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

The talk also introduced the historic achievements and transformation since the 18th National Congress of the CPC as well as a series of strategic plans outlined during the 20th National Congress of the CPC, elaborating the scientific connotation and significant implications of promoting Chinese modernization in achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Executive Vice-President of the National Academy of Governance Xie Chuntao delivers a talk on "The Communist Party of China and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation" on June 15, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The talk was attended by Lee and around 350 senior officials, including Secretaries of Departments, Directors of Bureaus and other politically appointed officials, as well as Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments, and other senior directorate officers of the HKSAR government. 

Lee thanked the academy for having long been giving strong support to the HKSAR government's training work. 

He said that the talk enabled senior government officials and civil servants to have a deeper understanding of the governance philosophy and mission of the CPC, and to have a more accurate appreciation of the country's policies of governance, so that the HKSAR government can play a more active role in supporting the overall development of the country.

Lee pointed out that the civil service was a key component of the HKSAR governance system, shouldering the responsibility of implementing the principle of "one country, two systems" and supporting the administration of the HKSAR government. 

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To effectively perform their duties, civil servants must understand the country, and fully appreciate the leadership role and mission of the CPC in the country, Lee said. 

He said he expected the attending officials to better serve the HKSAR in their respective positions and better leverage the distinctive advantages of the city under "one country, two systems" and its unique advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, “so as to better serve Hong Kong and the country, and contribute to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.” 

Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Clement Leung Cheuk-man said at the talk that the CSB, through the Civil Service College, had been making ongoing efforts to enhance civil service training so as to strengthen civil servants' sense of national identity and patriotism, and a shared commitment to serve the country and the HKSAR.