Addressing the prize presentation ceremony of the Outstanding Customer Service Award, Wong pointed out that Hong Kong's economy has suffered severe setback in recent years.

To tide over the difficult times with the community, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has introduced a series of measures to tighten the control over public spending and implement the Enhanced Productivity Program, he said.

"These measures have brought tremendous pressure as well as challenges to the civil service, but despite the financial hardship, colleagues in various departments persevere in their pursuit of forever higher standards in their services. Their efforts are commendable indeed," Wong noted.

According to Wong, twenty-three departments entered the keen competition for the award. They had to go through stringent assessments conducted in the form of site visits and presentations to an adjudicating panel comprising legislative councilors, customer-service professionals and representatives from both the management and staff.

Voting by the public also formed part of the adjudication process, in which more than 4,500 households were invited to give their scores as customers, Wong stated.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2003)