Beijing has recommended the largest-ever cohort of civil servants from Hong Kong for roles at United Nations agencies this year, expecting the deployments to broaden their global perspective and strengthen the city’s position as a bridge between the country and the international community.
The 16 officers sent under the UN Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme represent 13 grades and departments, including customs, police and the anti-corruption agency.
This marks a steady increase from the five officers sent in 2019, when Hong Kong joined the programme, and the 12 sent in 2023.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday said previous cohorts had excelled in fields spanning anti-drug operations, climate and resource coordination, trade and transport, and intellectual property protection.
“Previous batches contributed across fields, from drug enforcement to climate coordination. They earned high praise from the UN, with nearly half seeing their tenures extended at the organisation’s request,” he said.
“This affirms [the capabilities of] Hong Kong youth and strengthens our resolve to contribute to the international community.”
Lee said Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, set to be unveiled Wednesday next week, would align with the nation’s 15th five-year blueprint, and that dispatching young civil servants to the UN was part of the city’s effort to serve national diplomacy and meet global commitments by leveraging its professional strengths.
