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Political Adviser's Office
Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
It is learnt that three new posts have been created in the Office of the Political Adviser. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the reasons for the creation of these new posts;
(b) the salary scale and area of responsibilities of each of the posts; and
(c) from which departments the officials presently holding these posts were transferred and what posts did they hold in the departments concerned?
Reply:
Mr President
The Political Adviser's Office has recently been reorganised, on a trial basis, to bring together those functions of the Hong Kong Government which derive directly from UK sovereignty and which will cease in June 1997 when the office will be wound up. This has involved the transfer of certain responsibilities and loan of posts from other Secretariat Branches. The answers to the specific questions are as follows -
(a) No new posts have been created on the establishment of the Political Adviser's Office. However as a result of the reorganisation there are now three additional officers designated as Deputy Political Advisers. Two of these posts are on loan from other Secretariat Branches: the third is an officer filling an existing post which has been retitled;
(b) All these officers are filling existing AOSGC posts at the D2 level. The Deputy Political Adviser (Security) post deals with certain security issues related to UK sovereignty. The Deputy Political Adviser (Personnel) post deals with HMOCS and other sovereignty related Civil Service transitional matters and the Deputy Political Adviser (General) post is responsible for contributing to the China advice function and supporting the Political Adviser as a member of the Joint Liaison Group;
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