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Hong Kong's civil service has long been praised for its efficiency, professionalism and integrity. It has served as a stabilizing force since the city's transition from British to Chinese rule. However, recent events have highlighted the need for the civil service to adapt to the rapidly changing global landscape. The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which claimed 168 lives, has raised questions about building safety and regulatory oversight.

Construction scandals involving luxury homes and public housing estates have further eroded public confidence. The city's historical role as a trading post has allowed government to play a limited role in economic development, but recent challenges such as the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the SARS outbreak have shown that free markets alone cannot solve all economic and social issues.

The city now faces the prospect of rapid technological transformation as China becomes the world's second-largest economy and a major technological power. Hong Kong's economy is increasingly intertwined with the rapidly changing mainland economy. The government must be capable of responding decisively to these changes. The civil service must contend with emerging technologies and business models such as mobile payments, ride-hailing, autonomous driving, and green maritime fuel.

AI presents perhaps the greatest challenge, requiring a coherent strategy for AI adoption and governance across government and the wider economy. The government's Digital Policy Office, established in July 2024, provides a foundation for digital government, but structural changes and new leadership are needed to turn digital ambitions into results.

The civil service should recruit specialist talent from outside government to broaden its capabilities. Geopolitical changes necessitate diversifying external connections, and officials are working to build links with countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. Hong Kong's chief executive has introduced measures to strengthen accountability among senior officials and has launched a performance appraisal enhancement scheme to link salary increments to performance.