Flight school job conflict claims nipped in the bud

The civil service chief yesterday dismissed accusations that the appointment of a former aviation official as the new chief executive of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy involved a conflict of interest.

The accusations came after the mid-June appointment of former director-general of civil aviation Simon Li Tin-chui following his retirement last April as that “cooling-off period” was less than the two years ex-civil servants traditionally observe.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said Li has finished his 12-month “sanitization” period and had to apply to the bureau to work during his two-year cooling-off period.

Li’s application was approved after what Nip called a thorough review, which included consulting other bureaus.

“There’s absolutely no conflict of interest or deferred benefits. Those accusations are completely unfounded,”he said.

Nip noted that Li’s appointment was unlike others who “left the government to work in private companies” as the academy is established by the Airport Authority.

He added that Hong Kong needs more aviation-sector talents so Li’s appointment serves the public interest.

Separately, Nip said in a Legislative Council panel meeting that more than 88 percent of civil servants have received at least one jab of the Covid-19 vaccine, adding arrangements have been running smoothly.

That is up from the 70 percent rate recorded on August 2, when he announced that all unvaccinated civil servants must be tested every two weeks.

If they still haven’t received the first shot by September 1, they must pay for tests to be taken outside working hours.

In the same meeting, lawmakers discussed a proposal of the Kwun Tong Composite Development Project, which includes the establishment of a civil service college along with community and welfare facilities.

Nip said the construction of the college, which will occupy a site of about 16,600 square meters, will begin as soon as next year and is estimated to be completed in around six years.

The government plans to seek funding approval from the finance committee in this legislative year.

The estimated cost of the project is around HK$4.5 billion.

The Kwun Tong site will have 23 auditoriums and classrooms, six more than the existing Civil Service Training and Development Institute in North Point.

Architectural and surveying sector lawmaker Tony Tse Wai-chuen raised concerns that there won’t be enough car parks at the Kwun Tong site.

Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan replied that the majority of civil servants travel to the existing institution in North Point by public transport, adding that too many people driving to the college in private cars might cause traffic jams in the busy Kwun Tong area.