Aerial photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows citizens displaying China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in support of implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" at Tamar Park in Hong Kong, South China. Photo:Xinhua

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) officially opened its new Civil Service College on Thursday. Zhang Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and Carrie Lam, Hong Kong Chief Executive, addressed the opening ceremony, stressing the importance of spirit of patriotism and responsibility of civil servants to safeguard national security. 

Zhang said through video link that the central government has placed great importance on the training of Hong Kong and Macao civil servants. 

HKSAR's Chief Executive emphasized the need to recognize the philosophy and spirit of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as civil servants in Hong Kong, especially at the leadership level.

Lam said that the priority for the academy is to enhance the understanding by civil servants of the relationship between the central government and the government of the special administrative region.

"Civil servants should accurately understand the Constitution and the Basic Law, so that they can uphold the 'one country, two systems' principle and take up the responsibility of ensuring national security," Lam said. 

Furthermore, Zhang noted that the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office will offer support to Hong Kong to better leverage the nation's resources in civil servant training. 

Experts pointed out that the establishment of the Civil Service College is another initiative to further implement the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong."

"This principle should be implemented in the election process and in the administration," Tian Feilong, an associate professor at Beihang University's law faculty and member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

A large number of civil servants need to have a deep understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law, be familiar with the administrative culture and system of the country to better apply the "one country, two systems" principle to address and solve problems of the HKSAR, and to deal with the policy and management issues related to integration and development," Tian said. 

The HKSAR government has already implemented an oath-taking system for all civil servants, a selection process for civil servants in exchange in the mainland, and a mechanism to provide special legal training for civil servants on the Constitution and the Basic Law and the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

Tian pointed out that, as civil servants under "one country, two systems," Hong Kong civil servants should be familiar with both the mainland and the HKSAR policies. For this reason, the training and instructors should include local senior civil servants and heads of administrative departments, including relevant research experts.

Hong Kong civil servants also needs training by the central government as well as experts from the mainland, Tian said.

"It must also involve the cultivation of the social and political foundations, the interaction between the government and society, as well as to carry out extensive patriot education national education," Tian said, adding that "in the future, there should be clearer policies in the field of national education, media, and social organizations."  

The project also needs a mechanism to test its effectiveness, so that "patriots ruling Hong Kong" can truly become a fundamental principle for the stability under the "one country, two systems" principle, according to Tian.

By June 2020, there were over 170,000 civil servants in Hong Kong.