Speech by SCS at Government Career Fair 2026
Following is the speech by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, at the opening ceremony of the Government Career Fair 2026 at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) today (September 15):
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Photo source: reference image
Professor Chan (Vice-President (Community Engagement) of CityU, Professor Chan Chi-hou), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is always a pleasure to come to the lively campus of CityU. May I first express my warmest congratulations to CityU for its stellar accomplishment in advancing to the ranking of 52nd in the latest 2027 QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings. To make it to the top tier of global universities is no mean achievement. Well done CityU and all of you students and staff. Together you have made it and should rightfully be proud of yourself.
With the excellent nurturing of the university, those of you who are nearing the completion of your academic studies may be wondering what path you can turn into. Graduation is truly one of the most critical turning points in one's life. It is not just about finding a job. It is the beginning of a journey to discover a vocation - a mission that resonates with your ambition and values.
The civil service is the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Every major policy that drives our city's economic vitality, every infrastructure project that connects our communities, and every public service that improves daily life is planned and executed by our dedicated civil servants. Whether it is accelerating smart city innovation, advancing green technology, revitalising our tourism landscape, or expanding education opportunities, civil servants are at the direct helm of positive change. When you work for the Government, your daily work directly contributes to the long-term well-being of your fellow citizens and to the prosperity of Hong Kong.
The Central Government Offices, Photo source: reference image
Having devoted decades to public service, I can share with you candidly that I have never regretted this decision, not for a second. A civil service career is unlike any other. While it enables a decent standard of living, the true reward comes from knowing that your daily work could bring tangible improvements to the lives of our citizens and direct positive changes in society.
Every time I meet with university students, I am deeply impressed by their passion, creativity and drive - the very qualities that are vital to the advancement and continued development of Hong Kong. It is precisely for this reason that we spare no effort in attracting aspiring young people to join the civil service. To provide the younger generation with more opportunities and earlier career clarity, we started to recruit penultimate year university students since 2023. By making a conditional offer to outstanding students in their penultimate year of study, we provide a guarantee of a rewarding career in the civil service after graduation and a clear path of career advancement.
Furthermore, joining the Government opens doors to extensive leadership development. We invest heavily in our workforce through continuous training at the Civil Service College, national studies programmes, and mid-career back-to-campus learning opportunities. We also field outstanding young officers to join exchange programmes with Mainland cities to broaden their horizon, and offer numerous opportunities for them to gain international exposure through overseas postings to Hong Kong's overseas economic and trade offices, and secondment to international organisations as well. You will also have noticed from the media that we send young civil servants to participate in the United Nations Junior Professional Officer Programme at the recommendation of the Central People's Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Just last week we announced that a third batch of 16 young civil servants would depart Hong Kong for United Nations organisations around the world in the coming few months. This experience of becoming an international civil servant is unique and is not available to any other person outside the Government.
Today, we have gathered representatives from more than 30government departments and over 50 civil service grades in this career fair. I encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity to visit our exhibition booths, interact with our serving officers, ask questions, attend career talks, and explore how you can unleash your potential in the civil service.
We have also just launched the Joint Recruitment Exercise for six civil service grades, namely Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, Information Officer, Trade Officer, Management Services Officer, and Transport Officer, and we look forward to receiving your applications. Here is your chance to embark on a career journey with us where you can gain rich professional exposure, achieve lasting personal fulfillment, and directly impact the future of our city.
Before I close, I have to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Professor Chan and his team for their unwavering support in making this event possible. Thank you, and congratulations again for your great academic achievements and I wish you continued success in the years to come.
I wish you all a fruitful day ahead as you take these key steps toward unlocking a career you love - one marked by continuous growth, impactful service, and lasting fulfillment. Thankyou.
The City University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image
