HKUST Reviews Guidelines for Staff Engagement in Public Offices

Abstract

[evdate 1999-03-26] For immediate release 26 March 1999

HKUST REVIEWS GUIDELINES FOR STAFF ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC OFFICES

The Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology met yesterday to discuss a recommendation from the Conditions of Service Committee on the policy guidelines on staff engagement in public offices.

While the University掇 fundamental mission is to advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, and it has the obligation to direct public resources to these purposes in an accountable manner, the Council wishes to facilitate staff members{????}participation in public service, insofar as it does not compromise the University掇 mission and obligations. To this end, guidelines have been drawn up to enable staff members to seek public offices with appropriate reduction of salary and benefits at a rate equal to the percentage of University time to be taken up for the public offices. The staff members may alternatively declare, with justifications, to the University as to the percentage of University time they will spend on such public offices. Such declaration would be accessible to the public and monitored by the University.

When the guidelines were implemented in 1995, there were no appointed members to the then District Boards. When the Provisional District Boards were established in 1997, all members were appointed by the HKSAR Government. With the enactment of the District Councils Ordinance, however, there will be both elected and appointed members to the District Councils at the end of this year. In the light of the new development, the Council has seen a need to review the relevant guidelines.

Considering the similar nature of the role of an elected and an appointed member on the new District Councils, the University Council has decided that the existing guidelines should apply to both elected and appointed members of the District Councils.

Note to Editors: For enquiries, please call Dr Steven K. L. Poon, UST掇 Council Member and Chairman of the Conditions of Service Committee, at 2586-1122.