CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CIVIL SERVICE
Mr Chan also responded to various MPs’ questions on the Code of Conduct which Public Service officers have to abide by.
He said that in the course of their work, public officers may come across different requests, be it from colleagues, friends, members of the public, or political office holders.
“When handling these requests, officers are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism, and safeguard the confidentiality of official information, as well as the political impartiality of the public service,” he said.
Should an officer be unsure of a request because it seems inappropriate or unrelated to official work, he should consult and seek guidance from his supervisor.
And if the request comes from a supervisor, or a more senior officer, the officer can escalate the matter appropriately through the chain of command — including directly to the permanent secretary, the head of the agency, the head of civil Service, or the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service.
Mr Chan added that the Code of Conduct is reinforced through various channels such as annual quizzes, declarations, induction programmes for new entrants and regular reminders.
This article was originally published in TODAY.