Constitution and Administration | 17
Executive. The activities of advisory boards are wide-ranging. Some, such as the Telecommunications Standards Advisory Committee, deal with the interests of a particular industry. Others advise on a particular area of government policy, such as the Transport Advisory Committee, while the District Councils deal with district affairs. Statutory bodies perform their functions according to the relevant legislation. For example, the Hospital Authority has executive powers and manages ail public hospitals.
Government officials and the public are represented on these bodies. Over 4 000 members of the public are serving on about 400 bodies. These people are appointed because of their specialist knowledge or expertise, their record of, or interest in, contributing to community service and the specific needs of the concerned bodies. Many are also nominees or representatives from organisations in different sectors.
The Government oversees the operation of the advisory and statutory bodies to ensure that they meet the needs of the community. A reasonable turnover of membership is maintained to ensure a flow of new ideas. The Government will continue to enhance the participation of various sectors in the work of advisory and statutory bodies, in particular, women, young people and the disadvantaged. It will also continue to promote the public's understanding of their work through a number of measures aimed at improving transparency.
Structure of the Administration
The Chief Executive is the head of the Government of the HKSAR. The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary or the Secretary for Justice deputise for the Chief Executive during his temporary absence.
There are currently 11 bureaux, each headed by a Director of Bureau, which collectively form the Government Secretariat. There are 61 departments and agencies whose heads are responsible to the Directors of Bureaux for the direction of their departments and the efficient implementation of approved policies. The exceptions are the Audit Commission, the independence of which is safeguarded by having the Director's report submitted directly to the Legislative Council; and the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Office of The Ombudsman, whose independence is safeguarded by having the Commissioner's and The Ombudsman's reports submitted directly to the Chief Executive.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Justice and the 11 Directors of Bureaux (also known as Secretaries of Bureaux) are politically appointed Principal Officials. They are held accountable for matters falling within their respective portfolios.
Role of the Chief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration is the leading Principal Official in the HKSAR Government. He is a member of the Executive Council and the most senior official to deputise for the Chief Executive when the latter is not able to discharge his duties for a short period.