Constitution and Administration 21
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Office of The Ombudsman report directly to the Chief Executive.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Justice and the 12 Directors of Bureaux (Bureau Secretaries responsible for different policy portfolios) are politically appointed Principal Officials. They are appointed for a five-year term which will not exceed the term of the Chief Executive who nominates them for appointment. They are all Members of the Executive Council (equivalent of Cabinet in Hong Kong). These Principal Officials are accountable for matters falling within their respective portfolios. The Director of the Chief Executive's Office is also a politically appointed official, with the same terms of employment as those of a Director of Bureau.
Two additional layers of politically appointed officials Under Secretaries and Political Assistants were created in 2008 to provide the Principal Officials with stronger support in carrying out political work. In all, there are 40 positions under the Political Appointment System.
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 deputises for the Chief Executive when the latter is not able to discharge his duties for a short period.
The Chief Secretary for Administration supports the Chief Executive in administering Hong Kong and advises him on policy matters. He plays an important role in policy co-ordination, which is particularly important in areas that cut across policy bureaux. The Chief Secretary for Administration is responsible for overseeing specific priority areas of the Chief Executive's policy agenda, forging a closer and more effective working relationship between the Administration and the Legislative Council, and drawing up the Government's legislative programme. He also exercises statutory functions vested in him by law, such as those concerning the handling of appeals and certain public bodies.
Role of the Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary's primary responsibility is to assist the Chief Executive in overseeing policy formulation and implementation of financial, monetary, economic, trade and development matters. He exercises control over the Exchange Fund with. the assistance of the Monetary Authority. He is a member of the Executive Council.
The Financial Secretary is also in charge of the Government Budget. He is responsible under the Public Finance Ordinance for laying before the Legislative Council each year the Government's estimates of revenue and expenditure. In his annual budget speech, he outlines the Government's vision and policies for sustainable economic development, and he presents budgetary proposals and moves the Appropriation Bill, which gives legal effect to the annual expenditure proposals contained in the Budget.