Lawmaker worries well-trained civil servants may leave

The government provided civil servants with mainland and overseas training opportunities, including studies at prestigious institutions and secondments to international organisations, to broaden their horizons.

Lawmaker Chris Ip raised concerns that civil servants would leave their positions shortly after receiving the training.

He worried that the government would spend resources on overseas programmes only for staff to join the private sector, using the government as a stepping stone.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said very few people left the government after completing their training.

She explained that staff are required to sign a contract to remain in the government for a specific number of years if the training involved significant time and financial resources.

Yeung added that the experience gained from international organisations would be more suitable for public administration, meaning the vast majority of civil servants chose to stay.