HONG KONG - The oath-taking and declaration requirement for civil servants joining the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will not affect civil service unions' communication with the government, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) said on Tuesday. 

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the bureau said the new requirement will enable civil servants to have a clearer awareness of their responsibilities and the requirements of their official positions. 

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The CSB issued a circular to all departments on Monday requiring civil servants who join the government from July 1 to take an oath or make a declaration that they will uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR and be responsible to the government.

The CSB said the requirement will further safeguard, reinforce and promote the core values that should be upheld by civil servants, and ensure the effective governance of the HKSAR government. 

This arrangement is also in line with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, it added.

The CSB said the requirement will further safeguard, reinforce and promote the core values that should be upheld by civil servants, and ensure the effective governance of the HKSAR government

According to the statement, some civil service unions expressed concerns that the oath-taking and declaration requirement would affect their striving for civil servant remuneration and benefits.

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However, the bureau said the new requirement would not have any impact on civil service unions' communication with the government as long as they are operating within the provisions of the Trade Unions ordinance and their constitutions.

When a civil servant is suspected or was found to have breached the declaration or oath while in service, the case will be dealt with according to civil service rules and regulations, the CSB said.

The bureau added that it was consulting staff members to gauge their views regarding the oath-taking or declaration signing arrangements for serving civil servants.

After receiving their feedback and studying the matter, the bureau will work out and announce the implementation details, according to the statement.

The statement pointed out that civil servants, like other members of the public, enjoy the rights enshrined in the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance such as freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, but added that these rights are not absolute.