Rise in elite civil servants leaving prompts calls for hiring rethink

The number of elite Hong Kong public servants who resigned or retired climbed by a third in the past financial year compared with the previous one even as overall civil service turnover declined, prompting calls to expand open recruitment for senior posts. Figures from the Civil Service Bureau show that 36 administrative officers left the government in 2025-26, up by 33 per cent from 27 a year earlier.

Of the departures, 20 resigned, compared with 18 in 2024-25, while retirements climbed from...