XN000022-1996-05-08 — Page 24

3

There are currently proposals before this Council for changing the present appointment system in respect of one statutory body. The proposals would require the approval of this Council for appointments and specify that a certain number of members from the three-tier system of representative Government must be appointed. The Administration strongly opposes these proposals. The present system works well because it enables Government to make appointments based on individual merit to meet the needs of the body concerned. Giving the Legislative Council powers to vet candidates proposed by Government is likely to be seen as politicising the choice of appointees thereby reducing the pool of independent and candid advice, on which the system vitally depends. The three-tier system of representative government and the The advisory and statutory bodies play highly effective complementary roles. proposal to require members of the three-tier system of representative Government to be appointed to these bodies in large numbers would reduce their complementary character and introduce undue rigidity into the appointment system.

Accountability

The motion also calls for greater accountability in our system of boards and committees. This suggests that there is an accountability gap. But accountability is concerned with ensuring that someone is accountable for decisions taken or policies adopted. The Hong Kong system of government already provides for this. In particular, with the Administration being fully accountable to this fully-elected legislature.

The purpose of the system of advisory boards and committees is to allow Government to obtain advice from persons of a range of backgrounds and expertise at an early stage of the policy formulation process. The advisory bodies act as an initial sounding board or 'think-tank'. The issue of accountability is not relevant at this stage because no decisions have been taken. Indeed, proposals and recommendations emerging from the relevant advisory boards and committees in the case of major policy initiatives are invariably subject to close scrutiny by the Administration before they are taken further. Members of the three-tier system of representative government also play a significant role in shaping the final outcome of this process. Once a decision has been made, the Administration is of course fully accountable for it.

The role of the boards and committees performing executive functions is quite different from that of the advisory boards and committees. These executive bodies operate with a high degree of management independence to deliver services to the public. In many cases, such bodies are required to operate in accordance with prudent commercial principles. This is done because this is the most efficient and effective way of providing the services concerned. Although such bodies are entrusted with executive powers, policy responsibility remains firmly with the relevant policy secretaries. And it is the policy secretaries who are accountable to this Council.