CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
of the Government Secretariat, department, agency, other public body, public office or audited organisation has discharged its functions. Except for some public organisations where the Director of Audit has obtained statutory authority to conduct value-for-money audits in the respective ordinances, value-for-money audits are carried out according to a set of guidelines tabled in the Provisional Legislative Council by the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in 1998.
After the Director of Audit's report has been submitted to the President of the Legislative Council and laid before the council, it is considered by the Public Accounts Committee. In 1998, the Director submitted three reports: one on the audit certification of the government's accounts for the preceding financial year and two on the results of value-for-money audits.
The Director of Audit's reports on the accounts of other public bodies are submitted to the relevant authority in accordance with the legislation governing the operation of these bodies.
The Civil Service
The Civil Service employs about 6 per cent of Hong Kong's workforce. It provides staff for all government departments and other units of the administration. At October 1, 1998, the total strength of the Civil Service was 188 400, with staff distributed among some 420 grades and 1 250 ranks.
Overall responsibility for the management of the Civil Service lies with the Civil Service Bureau of the Government Secretariat. The bureau deals with policies and case work on such matters 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 and its General Grades Office manages the 30 000 executive, clerical and secretarial staff. Management of the Civil Service is governed mainly by three important instruments: the Public Service (Administration) Order 1997, the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation, and the Civil Service Regulations, all made with the authority of the Chief Executive.
The Public Service Commission is an independent statutory body set up in 1950 under the Public Service Commission Ordinance (Chapter 93 of the Laws of Hong Kong) comprising a full time chairman and prominent citizens serving as members and responsible for advising the Chief Executive on Civil Service appointment, promotion and disciplinary matters. The government is also advised on matters relating to pay and conditions of service by four independent bodies, the Standing Committees on: Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (senior officers); Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service (the judicial officers); and Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (the disciplined services); plus the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (all other civil servants).
In accordance with the Basic Law, all new appointees to the Civil Service on or after July 1, 1997, must be permanent residents of the HKSAR, save for those who fall within the exceptions pursuant to Articles 99 and 101 of the Basic Law. It is also a Basic Law requirement that the specified Principal Official posts must be filled by Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the HKSAR with no right of abode in any foreign country.