Hong Kong Civil Service Secretary Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said on Friday that city labor unions' planned referendum on whether to strike to oppose the proposed national security law for Hong Kong runs counter to the political neutrality of the civil service and would "tarnish" its well-established reputation.

In an open letter, he added that civil servants are "the backbone of the government" and are expected to stand in solidarity with it, and to discharge their mission and duty to safeguard national security in accordance with the law. Read the letter in full at www.csb.gov.hk/english/letter/2739.html