18 | Constitution and Administration
and the community and provides secretariat support to the Council for Sustainable Development.
The council was appointed by the Chief Executive in March 2003 to promote sustainable development in Hong Kong. The council carried out its first community engagement exercise in 2004 to consult stakeholders on sustainability issues in three pilot areas: solid waste management, renewable energy and urban living space. The council continued its engagement process by inviting views on Hong Kong's population policy in 2006, and by making plans to initiate another round of discussions with stakeholders on better air quality in 2007.
The council has invited applications to the Sustainable Development Fund three times since 2003, and will continue to invite organisations and individuals to apply. So far, a total of 14 projects have been approved, involving total grants of $12.5 million. Completed projects include an educational programme on sustainable development for the primary school sector and a project to encourage students to submit creative designs relevant to the theme of preserving community heritage.
One of the unit's major tasks is to oversee the implementation of a sustainability assessment system within the Government to facilitate
to facilitate the integration of sustainability considerations in the decision-making process. Ali bureaux and departments are required to conduct sustainability assessments of their major initiatives and programmes and explain the sustainability implications in their submissions to the Policy Committee and Executive Council.
The Civil Service
The civil service employs about 4 per cent of Hong Kong's labour force. It provides staff for all government departments and other units of the Administration. At December 31 2006, the total strength of the civil service was 153 800 (excluding about 1 400 judges and judicial officers and ICAC officers).
Overall policy responsibility for the management of the civil service lies with the Civil Service Bureau of the Government Secretariat. The bureau's remit includes making policies on appointments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training and development, conduct and discipline and use of official languages in the civil service. The bureau is also the focal point for consultation with major staff associations. It takes care of the management of Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, Official Languages Officer, Training Officer, Simultaneous Interpreter, Calligraphist as well as the clerical and secretarial grades staff. Management of the civil service is governed mainly by three important instruments: the Public Service (Administration) Order, 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 under the Public Service Commission Ordinance. Its fundamental role is to advise the Chief Executive on appointments, promotions and discipline in the civil service. The Government is also advised on civil service pay and conditions of service by three independent bodies: the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions