Remarks by SCS at media session
Following are the remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (October 11):
Reporter: How do you respond to concerns that the current point scale salary structure does not adequately differentiate between high and low performers, what measures are being proposed to address this, and also can you elaborate on the reward and penalty assessment measures that will be implemented under the accountability system? And, will the findings from second tier investigations be disclosed to the public?
Secretary for the Civil Service: For civil servants, we have an appraisal system, a system that assesses the performance levels of civil servants. We have observed that in some cases, the assessment is done in a more lenient than realistic way, and so we are now proposing to establish a more stringent appraisal system that reflects more accurately the performance of civil servants. And with this, and with the incremental point system closely associated with the performance of civil servants, when we have a more realistic, more accurate assessment of civil service performance, the incremental point system will also achieve its objective of rewarding only those who have performed well. As for the Heads of Department Accountability System, I believe when the second tier investigation has to be triggered when the Public Service Commission has to come into work to do the investigation, it must be something that the public is very concerned about. The Government, as always, in these circumstances, will disclose or will let the public know in an appropriate way the details of the case and what are the findings, and so on. In some cases, the investigation may involve personal data, privacy concern and so on, so the government will see to an appropriate way of disclosing details to the public. But as always, we will be transparent, we will let the public informed of matters that they are concerned about.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Source: AI-found images
Advisory Committee on Mental Health launches Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families to provide mental health support for families bereaved in Tai Po fire
The Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) announced today (December 11) the launch of a one-year Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families, under the co-ordination of the ACMH and with the participation of a number of non-governmental organisations, in response to the recent fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Participating organisations in the initial stage include Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, the Comfort Care Concern Group, and the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong.
Dovetailing with the "one social worker per household" service of the Social Welfare Department, the programme provides free mental health support services, including grief and bereavement counselling for the bereaved, and refers them to clinical psychologists and/or psychiatrists for follow-up services as required based on mental health risk assessments, with a view to accompanying them through the pain of loss. Participating organisations will actively reach out to the bereaved families to provide services. The Primary Healthcare Commission can also refer affected families to join the programme through the District Health Centres in all 18 districts in Hong Kong.
In addition, the Hospital Authority will train the staff of the relevant social service organisations by enhancing their knowledge of and skills in responding to reactions and stress brought about by disasters.
The Chairman of the ACMH, Dr Lam Ching-choi, said, "We fully understand the profound pain and loss caused by the disaster. The Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families will pool strengths from different sectors to provide psychological support for bereaved families affected by the disaster in a timely manner and to journey with them through this difficult time."
Dr Lam also visited the Lok Sin Village transitional housing project in Tai Po operated by the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, yesterday (December 10) to learn more about the living environment, facilities and support available to the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, who have been rehoused there on a temporary basis.
Advisory Committee on Mental Health launches Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families to provide mental health support for families bereaved in Tai Po fire Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
