Public Service Commission (Hong Kong)


The Public Service Commission in Hong Kong is the principal statutory advisory body to the Hong Kong Chief Executive on civil service appointments, promotions and discipline. The Commission is tasked with ensuring fairness in hiring and disciplinary practices as outlined in the Public Service Commission Ordinance and Chapter 93 of the Laws of Hong Kong.

History and remit

The Commission was established in 1950, with the primary aim of increasing the proportion of local Hongkongers appointed.
The Commission chairman and members are appointed by the Chief Executive.
Over the years since it was set up, the scope of concern of the Commission has narrowed somewhat, as the number of civil servants, and hence cases has increased - from a permanent establishment of 18,500 posts at the outset to 160,000 posts today.
In 1971, disciplinary cases came under the Commission's remit.
The Secretariat of the Public Service Commission provides day-to-day operational support.

Chairmen

NameIn officeNotes
Mr Thomas MegarryAug 1950 – Mar 1951Inaugural.
Mr LO Man-kamMar-Apr 1951* Acting Chairman
Mr John Robert JonesApr 1951 – June 1952* Acting Chairman
Mr Justice Ernest Hillas WilliamsJune 1952 – May 1953
Mr Justice Trevor Jack GouldMay 1953 – Nov 1953
Mr John Robert JonesNov 1953 – Jan 1959
Mr Richard Charles LeeJan 1959 – July 1959
Mr E R Childe JPJuly 1959 – May 1965
Mr M S Cumming OBE, JPJune 1965 – May 1967
Sir Charles Hartwell JPMay 1967 – Nov 1971
Sir Ronald Holmes Nov 1971 – May 1977
Sir Donald Luddington May 1977 – Sept 1978
Mr Ian MacDonald LIGHTBODY CMG, JPSept 1978 – Oct 1980
Mr LI Fook-kow CMG,JPOct 1980 – May 1987
Mr Eric Peter HO JPMay 1987 – June 1991
Mr Augustine CHUI Kam JPJune 1991 – July 1996
Mr Haider Hatim Tyebjee BARMA, CBE, ISO, GBS JP1 Aug 1996 – Apr 2005
Mr Nicholas NG Wing-fui GBS JP1 May 2005 – 30 April 2014
Ms Rita Lau1 May 2014 – present