CE writes to members of the civil service
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The following is a letter by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, to members of the civil service today (March 26):

26 March 2012

Dear Colleagues,

Yesterday, the Chief Executive Election took place in an open and transparent manner. The entire process went smoothly, which once again demonstrates the dedication and professionalism of the civil service in carrying out their duties for such an important constitutional event.

One of the most important tasks for the remainder of my term is to achieve a smooth transition of government. To this end, I met this morning with the Chief Executive-elect, Mr C Y Leung, to discuss the various handover arrangements. We have reached a consensus on how we should go about this crucial work.

To support Mr Leung form his governing team and plan the start of his administration on 1 July 2012, the Office of the CE-elect formally started work today. Over the next few months, colleagues from my office will work closely with the CE-elect’s Office to bring about the smoothest transition possible.  My office will also serve as the liaison point between the CE-elect Office and the rest of the Government, co-ordinating any requests for information and handover meetings.

These handover arrangements are significant and unprecedented for the HKSAR Government.  Our objective is to help the new Administration get off to the best start possible on 1 July 2012, ensure the effective governance of my Administration until then, and to devise a workable template for future handover arrangements.

For as long as we can remember, our civil service has earned a high reputation for supporting the government of the day with dedication, loyalty and professionalism. I am sure all Government colleagues will uphold these fine traditions by providing full support for the handover arrangements. I believe that all of you will continue to give of your best, now and in the future, in working for the continued prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

Yours sincerely,

(Donald Tsang)
Chief Executive