New rules take effect on firing subpar civil servants
A streamlined mechanism to get rid of poorly-performing civil servants took effect on Monday. The Civil Service Bureau said it has issued a circular to all government workers explaining the new arrangements with a view to "further enhance performance management and maintain the professionalism and efficiency of the civil service". The bureau said it has collected views from civil servants earlier this year, and they generally agreed with the new mechanism. The new measures include reducing the number of times public workers can express views on their work performance during the employment termination process and limiting to once the observation period for officers to show they can improve can be extended.