Fewer job positions that perform repetitive and simple tasks will be on offer as the administration works to downsize its workforce, said the civil service chief.

As part of a government-wide cost-saving plan, the civil service will be cut by 2 percent in each of the next two financial years, with about 10,000 civil service jobs expected to be slashed by April 1, 2027.

In an interview with RTHK marking the third year of her joining John Lee’s administration, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung also said artificial intelligence would be increasingly utilised to enhance government efficiency.

Yeung visited Shenzhen recently to learn how her counterparts are using AI to support administrative work such as the drafting of documents and legal contracts.

But she stressed that civil servants would not be completely replaced by AI.

“For example, in Shenzhen they have an ‘AI public officer’," Yeung said.

"But behind that AI public officer, there is a human civil servant to supervise its work.

“Although the AI system is trained and programmed to perform repetitive tasks, we still need a human guardian to check for errors.”

The government will also need more people in roles that require judgement skills and strategic thinking, Yeung said.

The civil service chief also clarified that there are currently no plans to enforce retirements due to the elimination of any specific types of jobs.

She added that 214 civil servants have been removed over the past five years due to serious misconduct or criminal convictions.

The government has also announced plans to make changes to the civil service disciplinary mechanism from next year, which include waiving disciplinary hearings for certain cases and tightening rules for salary deductions.

Yeung said she hopes the new measures can strengthen the deterrent effect and lead to fewer civil servant dismissals.