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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
British Government machinery, particularly when new policies are being formulated by other Whitehall departments.
Hong Kong's foreign relations are constitutionally the direct responsibility of the British Government. The British Government is internationally responsible for ensuring that the Hong Kong Government fulfils its obligations under the many international conventions and agreements which extend to Hong Kong, as well as to the United Kingdom. But in the day-to-day conduct of external affairs, Hong Kong in practice enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy, and full autonomy regarding international economic and trade matters.
The Role of the Political Adviser
The Political Adviser is a senior member of the British Diplomatic Service, seconded to the Hong Kong Government principally to advise on relations with China and matters pertaining specifically to Britain's responsibilities in Hong Kong, the requirement for which will cease in 1997. The office is part of the Hong Kong Government.
The Political Adviser's office, in conjunction with the Constitutional Affairs Branch, is closely involved in the work of implementing the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong. The Political Adviser is, ex officio, a member of the UK side of the Joint Liaison Group.
The Political Adviser's office is also a communication channel between the Hong Kong Government and foreign and Commonwealth missions in the territory. These missions deal directly, however, with the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Government in most day-to-day matters.
The Public Service
The Public Service employs about six per cent of Hong Kong's workforce. It provides staff for all government departments and other units of the administration. As at July 1, 1995, the total strength of the Public Service was 180 313. Nearly 99 per cent are local officers. The service is structured into some 426 grades or job categories in the administrative, professional, technical and manual fields, with about 1 232 ranks or job levels.
Overall responsibility for the management of the Public Service lies with the Civil Service Branch of the Government Secretariat. The branch deals with matters such as appointments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training and discipline. It is also the focal point for consultation with the principal staff associations. There are five departmental divisions, each responsible for the full range of personnel management matters of a group of departments; and four functional divisions, dealing with service-wide issues such as staff relations and pensions. In addition, its General Grades Office is responsible for the overall man- agement of some 30 000 officers in certain categories of general grades.
The principle of open and fair competition is the cornerstone of the government's appointment policy which aims to recruit the best people into the Civil Service. The appointment process is open, transparent and non-discriminatory. Recruitment and promotion to the middle and senior ranks of the Civil Service are subject to the advice of the Public Service Commission, an independent statutory body comprising a full-time chairman and prominent citizens serving as members.