【明報專訊】A plan of updating the Civil Service Code was mentioned in the Policy Address. The Secretary for the Civil Service has stated that civil servants will be required to uphold "impartiality" instead of the principle of "political neutrality". Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and different people have different political stances. This also applies to civil servants. However, those working in a government position to serve the people must devote themselves to their duties. Party politics has never been practised in Hong Kong. Ever since the era of British Hong Kong, the duty of civil servants has always been executing the government's policy decisions faithfully and fulfilling their functions with integrity, all of which should never be swayed by their personal political orientations. This principle should never be strayed from no matter how it is put into words. The Civil Service Code is to replace "political neutrality" with "impartiality" — the more explicitly and precisely it can be spelled out, the more it can avoid any distortion and misunderstanding. It is also beneficial in helping spare civil servants from unfair accusations.