Inaugural session of Heads of Department Fellowship held
The Civil Service College (CSC) held the inaugural sharing session of the Heads of Department (HoD) Fellowship today (August 5), with the aim of strengthening leadership mindset and enhancing departmental management capabilities. At the session, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, encouraged HoDs to practise proactive leadership by establishing effective management teams and operating systems, as well as fostering a positive culture of continuous improvement, so as to enhance the governance effectiveness of departments.
In his opening remarks, Mr Chan said that HoDs are not only policy implementers and the ultimate parties accountable for departmental performance, but also helmsmen of departments and shapers of organisational culture. HoDs should demonstrate "proactive leadership" in all areas of day-to-day management, develop a thorough understanding of operational realities and potential problems, and establish effective feedback mechanisms. They should also ensure that manpower deployment and financial resources are aligned with policy objectives, and take full accountability for their departments' overall performance.
He remarked that the success of the HoD Accountability System lies not in the number of investigations activated, but in the continuous enhancement of departments' execution capabilities through the proactive leadership of HoDs, ensuring effective implementation of policy measures and enhancing the overall standard of governance, while delivering tangible benefits to the public. This is the true purpose of the Accountability System. He also encouraged participants to make good use of this exchange platform to share experiences, pool the strength of solidarity and co-operation, uphold their original aspiration of serving Hong Kong, and continue to do their utmost for the public.
Addressing the session, Mrs Yeung pointed out that the performance of civil servants is the key to improving governance. HoDs must personally lead human resource management, ensuring that human resource strategies are closely tied to their departments' overall work objectives and development needs. The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has been actively strengthening relevant measures, including implementing the Performance Appraisal Enhancement Scheme for Civil Servants (Phase 1) in October this year, to more accurately reflect and differentiate the work performance of civil servants. The CSC has also been actively cultivating a culture within the civil service that values training, and launched the GovCPD Scheme last month to set out continuous learning requirements for civil servants. The CSB will continue to support departments in human resource management on multiple fronts, with a view to further enhancing departmental performance and the overall effectiveness of the Government.
The HoD Fellowship also serves as a platform for information exchanges, enhancing the exchanges of experiences and exploring and promoting best practices among departments. During the sharing session, the Head of the CSC, Mr Oscar Kwok, invited HoDs to share their experiences and insights on enhancing departmental services.
About 140 Permanent Secretaries, HoDs and their deputies from 63 bureaux and departments attended today's sharing session.
The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address announced the establishment of the HoD Accountability System, explaining clearly the concept of administrative accountability on the part of civil servants with managerial roles, especially that of HoDs, and introducing a new Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism for handling problems.
Inaugural session of Heads of Department Fellowship held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Inaugural session of Heads of Department Fellowship held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Inaugural session of Heads of Department Fellowship held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH cracks down on illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine
The Department of Health (DH) today (August 5) conducted operations across multiple districts in Hong Kong to crack down on the illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine, seizing approximately 100 boxes of suspected unregistered medicine claimed to have pain-relieving effects. Most of the products were labelled in Japanese. Additionally, a man was arrested on suspicion of violating the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138) (the Ordinance).
The DH received a report that pain relief medicine classified as Part 1 poisons under the Ordinance were being sold or possessed on the market. However, the products were labelled in Japanese and were suspected of not being registered in Hong Kong. Hence, the DH officers today conducted unannounced inspections in various districts, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long. At an Authorized Seller of Poisons (ASP), commonly known as a pharmacy, a Listed Seller of Poisons (LSP) commonly known as a medicine company and two retail outlets, DH officers seized approximately 100 boxes of suspected unregistered medicine claimed to have pain-relieving effects. Most of the products were labelled in Japanese and did not bear a Hong Kong pharmaceutical product Registration Number. They are suspected to be medicine containing "Ibuprofen" and "dihydrocodeine". A 38-year-old man was arrested by the police on suspicion of contravention of drug-related offences, including, illegal possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 Poisons.
The DH will continue to investigate and follow-up on the case, and will prosecute other individuals involved in the case when sufficient evidence is available.
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killer and its side effects include nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort and peptic ulcers. Dihydrocodeine is an opioid analgesic used as a cough suppressant and for pain relief, and its side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness. Medicines containing Ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine are Part 1 poisons and should only be supplied by a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist or upon the advice of a medical practitioner.
The DH has an established mechanism to monitor the sale of pharmaceutical products in the market (including the Internet). If the DH detects any suspected illegal sale or possession of pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons, the DH will promptly investigate, and, if necessary, refer the case to other law enforcement agencies to follow up, or conduct joint operations with other law enforcement agencies, and any irregularities so found will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences under the Ordinance, which upon conviction, are subject to a fine of up to $100,000 and an imprisonment for two years.
According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. The DH reminded the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
The DH strongly urged members of the public to consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication. Do not self-purchase or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources as their safety, quality and efficacy are unguaranteed. The DH has prepared some safety information for consumers regarding the purchase and use of medicines, namely Be Cautious when Buying Medicines on Internet, General Knowledge on Registered Medicines, Be Cautious When Buying Medicines Overseas.
DH cracks down on illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH cracks down on illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
