12 Facts About Patrick Nip

Patrick Nip served as Secretary for the Civil Service from 2020 to 2022.

Patrick Nip obtained a master's degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School and has studied at Oxford University and attended national studies courses at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

Patrick Nip joined the Administrative Service in August 1986, serving in various bureaux and departments, including the City and New Territories Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary's Office, the Trade and Industry Branch, the Finance Branch, the Civil Service Branch, the Trade Department, the Chief Executive's Office, the former Health and Welfare Bureau, the Beijing Office and the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.

Patrick Nip was appointed Director of Social Welfare in 2009 and Director in the Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office in 2013, before becoming Director of Information Services in February 2014.

From July 2017, Patrick Nip was Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

The announcement came two days after Patrick Nip's office had issued press statements that failed to reflect Beijing's assertion that the Liaison Office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office were not subject to Article 22 of the Basic Law, preventing interference in Hong Kong affairs by mainland authorities.

Patrick Nip immediately took up the role of Secretary for the Civil Service, controversially the first non-civil servant to hold the post, at a time of emerging political activism within Civil Service ranks and pressure from Beijing for unswerving loyalty from all Hong Kong government staff.

In February 2021, Patrick Nip announced that the government was considering creating laws that would make it illegal for citizens to insult public officials.

In October 2020, Patrick Nip announced a new rule, stating that civil servants who do not sign a declaration to uphold the Basic Law or do not swear allegiance to the Hong Kong government would risk losing future promotions.

Apple Daily reported in October 2020 that Patrick Nip had previously said those who violate their oaths could face dismissal and other serious consequences.

In February 2021, Patrick Nip claimed that if civil servants genuinely accept the oath, then they should not feel threatened by it.

In February 2022, Patrick Nip announced that civil servants would be required to take national security training in order to complete their probationary period.