The Succession Crisis in Hong Kong`s Civil Service

Abstract

In the transition from a British colony to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong’s civil service will play a critical role in maintaining continuity and stability. Yet, it is apparent that the government faces a crisis of succession. This article aims to examine the significant attrition of key positions in Hong Kong’s civil service and the factors leading to this crisis. The latter include the colonial legacy of slow localization and the sudden increase in replacing senior civil servants in the years prior to Hong Kong’s handover A considerable number of directorate grade officers are contemplating early retirement due to personal financial benefits (pensions) and the political developments that are changing bureaucrats’ traditional roles.