Patrick Nip

Patrick Nip Tak-kuen (Chinese: 聶德權; born 1964) is a Hong Kong government official. Since April 2020, he has been Secretary for the Civil Service in Chief Executive Carrie Lam's administration.

The Honourable Patrick Nip Tak-kuen JP
聶德權
Secretary for the Civil Service
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 April 2020
Chief Executive	Carrie Lam
Preceded by	Joshua Law
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
In office 1 July 2017 – 22 April 2020
Chief Executive	Carrie Lam
Preceded by	Raymond Tam
Succeeded by	Erick Tsang
Government offices Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) In office 2016 – 30 June 2016 Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man Preceded by Richard Yuen Succeeded by Elizabeth Tse Director of Information Services In office 2014–2016 Preceded by Michael Wong Succeeded by Joe Wong Director of Social Welfare In office 2009–2013 Preceded by Stephen Fredrick Fisher Succeeded by Carol Yip
Personal details
Born	1964 (age 56–57)
Alma mater	University of Hong Kong (BSS) Harvard Kennedy School (MPA)
Signature

Background

Nip attended Kwun Tong Maryknoll College and then the University of Hong Kong, graduating in 1986. He obtained a master's degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School and has also studied at Oxford University and attended national studies courses at the Chinese Academy of Governance.[1]

Career

Nip joined the Administrative Service in August 1986, serving in various bureaux and departments, including the City and New Territories Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary's Office, the Trade and Industry Branch, the Finance Branch, the Civil Service Branch, the Trade Department, the Chief Executive's Office, the former Health and Welfare Bureau, the Beijing Office and the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.[2]

He was appointed Director of Social Welfare in 2009 and Director (Special Duties) in the Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office in 2013, before becoming Director of Information Services in February 2014. For a year from July 2016 he was Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health).[2]

From July 2017, Nip was Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs. But in a cabinet reshuffle on 22 April 2020, Lam removed him from the role (to be replaced by Erick Tsang). The announcement came two days after Nip's office had issued (and then amended) press statements that failed to reflect Beijing's assertion that the Liaison Office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office were not subject to Article 22 of the Basic Law, preventing interference in Hong Kong affairs by mainland authorities. Until then, all branches of the Hong Kong Government had always stated that they were, and indeed it was widely held that that such effect was central to the 'one country, two systems principle.[3][4]

Nip immediately took up the role of Secretary for the Civil Service, controversially the first non-civil servant to hold the post, at a time of emerging political activism within Civil Service ranks and pressure from Beijing for unswerving loyalty from all Hong Kong government staff.[5]

Oath taking

In October 2020, Nip announced a new rule, stating that civil servants who do not sign a declaration to uphold the Basic Law or do not swear allegiance to the Hong Kong government would risk losing future promotions.[6] Apple Daily reported in October 2020 that Nip had previously said those who violate their oaths could also face dismissal and other serious consequences.[7] In addition, he said that civil servants should "explain, implement and promote" government policies without their personal opinions, and also refrain from openly criticizing government decisions.[7] In December 2020, Nip announced that civil servants would be given a month to sign the oath, or risk being fired or ordered to retire if their service is "not in the public interest."[8]

On 18 January 2021, Nip again warned civil servants to not express their views publicly, warning that they could be in trouble "If he expresses his view openly, in his capacity as a civil servant, unless the matter is about the pay and conditions of the civil service, otherwise we'll have to consider whether such an expression would create conflict with his duty in the civil service, and whether that would cause misunderstanding on the administration."[9] Additionally, he mentioned that temporary and short-term contractors and staff in the Civil Service would also be required to sign the oath.[10]

References

1. "Mr Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, JP, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs". Hong Kong government.
2. "Senior appointments (with photos)".
3. Ho, Kelly (2020-04-21). "Mainland affairs minister Patrick Nip replaced following apology over Beijing office row". Hong Kong Free Press. HKFP. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
4. Cheung, Gary (2020-04-21). "Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to announce major cabinet reshuffle with four ministers leaving and another transferred, sources reveal". SCMP. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
5. Cheng, Lillian (2020-04-23). "Hong Kong's new civil service chief faces daunting challenge of pleasing Beijing while boosting staff morale, experts say". SCMP. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
6. "Signal of disloyalty if civil servants don't swear allegiance, minister Patrick Nip suggests". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-10-10.
7. "Civil servants violate their oaths if they don't accept 'one country, two systems,' says civil service chief". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-10-12.
8. "Civil servants to be given a month to sign new oath - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
9. "'Views should not be in conflict with your identity' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
10. "Hong Kong gov't pledge of allegiance also to cover contractors for civil service, minister says". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-20.