'Civil Servants Who Join Protest Must Be Sacked'

Around three dozen people staged a demonstration outside the government's headquarters on Friday morning, demanding the sacking of any civil servants who join a protest planned for the evening.

The demonstrators from pro-establishment groups, including New Millenarian, say civil servants must uphold the principle of political neutrality and taking part in a rally would violate the Civil Service Code.

They called on Civil Service Secretary Joshua Law to immediately fire one of the organisers of Friday night's civil servants' rally – Labour Department official Michael Ngan – accusing him of causing divisions among the Civil Service and adding fuel to the ongoing anti-government protests.

They said Ngan has a track record of causing trouble, including class boycotts and anti-national education protests when he was a student.

The demonstrators said any civil servants who take part in the rally in Chater Garden should also be dismissed.

On Thursday, the government issued a statement warning there would be repercussions if civil servants break neutrality rules.

But on Friday, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said government staff were free to attend the rally in their personal capacity and in their free time, although they must not do anything to oppose the government in the name of the Civil Service.