Public Service Commission (Hong Kong) Explained

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.^[1]

History and remit

The Commission was established in 1950, with the primary aim of increasing the proportion of local Hongkongers appointed.^[2]

The Commission chairman and (currently eight) members are appointed by the Chief Executive.^[3]

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.^[4]

The Secretariat of the Public Service Commission provides day-to-day operational support.

Chairmen

Name	In office	Notes
	Aug 1950 – Mar 1951	Inaugural.[5]
Mr LO Man-kam	Mar-Apr 1951	Acting Chairman
Mr John Robert Jones	Apr 1951 – June 1952	Acting Chairman
	June 1952 – May 1953
Mr Justice Trevor Jack Gould	May 1953 – Nov 1953
Mr John Robert Jones	Nov 1953 – Jan 1959	(also Acting Chairman Apr 1951 – June 1952)
	Jan 1959 – July 1959
	July 1959 – May 1965	[6]
	June 1965 – May 1967
	May 1967 – Nov 1971	[7]
	Nov 1971 – May 1977
	May 1977 – Sept 1978
	Sept 1978 – Oct 1980
	Oct 1980 – May 1987
	May 1987 – June 1991
	June 1991 – July 1996
	1 Aug 1996 – Apr 2005	[8] [9]
	1 May 2005 – 30 April 2014	[10]
	1 May 2014 – present	(appointed to 30 April 2023)[11] [12]

See also

• Hong Kong Civil Service

External links

• Public Service Commission
• Cap. 93 Public Service Commission Ordinance

Notes and References

1. https://www.psc.gov.hk/eindex.html Public Service Commission - Welcome message
2. Book: Cheng , Joseph YS . Joseph Cheng . The Other Hong Kong Report 1990 . . Hong Kong . 1990 . 24 . 9622014941.
3. https://www.psc.gov.hk/english/aboutus/membership.html Public Service Commission - Membership
4. https://www.csb.gov.hk/hkgcsb/csn/csn79/79e/features_12.html 60th anniversary interview with Chairman Nicholas Ng Wing-fui
5. http://www.agtso.org/update/download/PSC%20report%202010_E.pdf PSC Annual Report 2010. Appendix III: List of Chairmen and Members of the Commission (1950 – 2010)
6. https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr08-09/english/sc/sc_lcm/report/documents/c54-e.pdf Membership of Public Service Commission since establishment in 1950
7. https://www.legco.gov.hk/1967/h670329.pdf Appointment of Sir Charles Hartwell as chairman
8. https://www.psc.gov.hk/english/ann_rep/files/01rep.pdf PSC Annual Report 2001
9. https://www.psc.gov.hk/english/ann_rep/files/05rep.pdf PSC Annual Report 2005
10. https://www.csb.gov.hk/english/info/2151.html Re-appointment of Chairman of Public Service Commission
11. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201703/14/P2017031400299.htm Re-appointment of Chairman of Public Service Commission
12. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202004/07/P2020040700234.htm Re-appointment of Chairman of Public Service Commission