Skip to content
4 June 2026

More than 150 Hong Kong civil servants dismissed between 2026 and 2026

An official breakdown shows 151 dismissals across three financial years and highlights where most cases occurred

More than 150 Hong Kong civil servants dismissed between 2026 and 2026

The Civil Service Bureau has disclosed that 151 civil servants were removed from post for serious misconduct or for having been convicted of crimes in a span covering three financial years. The numbers were provided in a written reply to a lawmaker’s inquiry and cover the period between 2026 and 2026. This summary presents the totals reported by the bureau and aims to clarify which parts of the public service were most affected and how the pattern shifted across those years. The figures underline disciplinary action taken against public employees whose behaviour breached expected standards.

The disclosure separates the cases by financial year and by department, allowing readers to see both the aggregate and the distribution of dismissals. Beyond the raw totals, the response from the bureau helps frame the government’s approach to maintaining standards in the public sector. For readers interested in oversight and public accountability, these numbers serve as an indicator of enforcement activity and of areas that may require greater attention in personnel management and training.

Official summary and context

The official reply confirms that a total of 151 dismissals occurred between 2026 and 2026. According to the bureau, these actions were taken where staff were found guilty of criminal offences or where behaviour amounted to serious misconduct that could not be addressed by lesser penalties. The use of dismissal signals a final employment sanction and typically follows internal investigations and formal procedures. By publishing these totals the bureau provides transparency about how disciplinary rules are applied across the civil service.

Year-by-year breakdown

Annual totals

The data show a steady downward movement in the number of dismissals over the three financial years: 60 in 2026–23, 51 in 2026–24 and 40 in 2026–25. These figures add up to the reported 151 removals. The year-to-year decline may reflect a range of factors including changes in case volume, adjustments to internal disciplinary practices, or other operational developments within departments. The bureau’s reply does not attribute causes, but the sequence allows observers to see how enforcement activity evolved during the covered period.

Trends and interpretation

Interpreting the trend requires care: a reduction in dismissals does not automatically mean fewer incidents of wrongdoing. It could indicate more preventative measures, successful alternative sanctions, or changes in reporting and investigation practices. The figures do, however, provide a measurable record of outcomes where the threshold for removal was met. Analysts and lawmakers often use such statistics as one indicator among many when assessing workforce conduct and the effectiveness of internal oversight mechanisms.

Departments and concentration of cases

The bureau highlighted that the police force accounted for the largest number of the reported dismissals. While the reply did not itemise every affected unit in the public summary, it singled out areas where dismissals were concentrated, suggesting that certain roles or environments produced a higher incidence of cases requiring termination. For transparency advocates, the department-level information points to where targeted reforms or enhanced supervision might be most needed.

Police force focus

The prominence of the police force in the totals draws attention because the force is a high-profile arm of government where misconduct can have broader civic consequences. The bureau’s statement implies that when personnel within the force are found culpable of criminal behaviour or serious breaches of conduct, the outcome has often been dismissal. Observers will likely call for more granular data on the nature of the offences and on any systemic issues that could be addressed to reduce future incidents.

implications for governance and accountability

Publishings of disciplinary totals such as these feed into wider debates about public sector integrity. The reported 151 dismissals over three years illustrate that the administration is willing to take severe employment action when justified. At the same time, stakeholders will ask whether current oversight, training and reporting channels are adequate to prevent misconduct and to ensure consistent, timely handling of complaints. For lawmakers and the public, transparent statistics combined with clear corrective strategies form the backbone of trust in public institutions.

In sum, the civil service disclosure provides a factual baseline: the number of personnel removed for wrongdoing, its distribution across the three financial years, and the departmental concentration led by the police force. Moving forward, both policymakers and independent monitors may press for more detailed breakdowns and for follow-up measures designed to reduce incidents that ultimately result in dismissal.

Author

Beatrice Faggin

Beatrice Faggin obtained official documents on a tender after a week of access-to-records; desk editor who builds investigative features and coordinates internal fact-checking. Genoese by birth, maintains a personal database of public contracts available in the newsroom.