Hong Kong civil service learning scheme to expand to mid-level managers within two years
Hong Kong's Civil Service Bureau head says a continuous learning programme for senior officials will be extended to mid-level managers within two years. The bureau has also integrated national security and AI training into various courses.
Hong Kong's Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has outlined plans to expand its mandatory continuous learning programme to mid-level managers within two years, according to the bureau's director, Yeung Ho-pinyan. Speaking at a Legislative Council committee on 26 October, Yeung said the programme, launched in July this year, currently requires directorate and senior civil servants to earn a set number of credits annually across three key learning areas.
Yeung noted that the Civil Service College has in recent years established a training framework covering new recruits, ongoing professional development and leadership training for mid-level and senior officials. The college held its first departmental leadership experience-sharing session in August to support the accountability system for department heads, aiming to strengthen proactive leadership thinking and departmental governance.
On patriotic education, the college regularly runs seminar courses to instil in civil servants a correct understanding of history and national security. These include seminars on modern Chinese history, the 'Ancient Wisdom, Modern Application' series, and the 'Explaining China to the World' series.
Yeung also said national security training has been incorporated into courses at all levels, including induction training, specialist lectures for mid-level and senior staff, mainland study programmes and online learning.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI) training, Yeung said the college supports civil servants through three channels: leadership training, general training and online learning. This helps officials understand the potential and opportunities of AI applications, complementing department-level AI training to advance AI-enabled public services.