Press Releases
Civil servants encouraged to take a 'dragon boat' approach
Civil servants have been encouraged by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, to take a 'dragon boat' approach when dealing with challenges facing the government.
Speaking at the civil service management forum - 'A world-class government for Asia's world city' - Dr Yeoh said a key focus of the forum was the importance of working in partnership, not just within the civil service but also with the private sector, with NGOs, the legislature and academia.
"Any of you who have watched a dragon boat race will know that the best teams are those that use their collective strength and paddle together as a unit," Dr Yeoh told more than 1,500 civil servants attending day three of the four-day forum at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
"If one or two people are out of step with the drum beat then the boat becomes unsteady and loses its momentum.
"This week's management forums are designed to help us all paddle together to the same beat and to appreciate the value of welcoming new members into the team."
Dr Yeoh said China's entry to the WTO, economic co-operation with the Pearl River Delta, the need for life-long learning and an ageing population would all affect Hong Kong's development 'and, by extension, what you do every day at work'.
"How we deal with these challenges and pressures will determine whether we can achieve our goal to become Asia's world city," he said.
"In many ways we have already achieved that status. In other areas, such as quality of life issues, we need to do a lot more.
"After today, it is hoped that you will have a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a world city, and how the civil service has a vital role to play in that process."
Dr Yeoh touched on three issues within his own portfolio that would require collective effort to deal with.
He said rapid advances in science and technology had provided new and alternative therapeutic options that could increase longevity and improve quality of life. "But often these advances come at a substantial cost. How can we meet the aspirations of the community to give them the best treatment possible?" he asked.
On the chicken 'flu outbreak, Dr Yeoh said: "Many Hong Kong people like to buy fresh poultry at the markets. But the chicken 'flu outbreaks have posed a serious threat to public health. "Should we try to change long-standing habits and traditions to reduce even further the risk of another outbreak?"
Dr Yeoh also pointed out that Hong Kong's ageing population would place increasing demands on health and welfare services and asked how the institutional framework could be transformed to meet this challenge.
"As you can see, these are not easy questions to answer, and they illustrate the complexity of the many issues facing our community," he said.
"As civil servants you have a crucial role to play in helping to resolve all of these issues. Without your drive, dedication, experience and imagination we will not be able to address these problems."
The management forum - 'A world-class government for Asia's world city - has been organised by the Efficiency Unit, under the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office.
About 14,000 middle and senior ranking civil servants will take part in eight sessions between August 26 and 29. Dr Yeoh was addressing the morning session of day three.
Wednesday, August 28, 2002