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incident. I shall analyse comprehensively from an overall angle as well as outline the causes of and resolutions to our series of food hygiene incidents. I shall also cover the role played by the Urban Council and Regional Council in these incidents.
First of all, the answer to the question of accountability towards food safety and environmental hygiene under the present set-up is very clear. Government is responsible and operationally, the mode is administration led.
Point one. The two municipal councils are financially independent, but their role is restricted to monitoring of the two administrative municipal services departments, devising policies on culture, recreation, hygiene, market traders, establishing and amending relevant municipal and public health ordinances, issuing licences in respect of matters associated with municipal services and managing municipal sites and facilities through the executive departments. The two municipal councils monitor the expenditure of the executive departments through a detailed and highly transparent system. Quite a large proportion of the expenditure goes to the salaries of staff of the two municipal services departments. The two municipal councils can also move motions for debate and ask questions at monthly meetings to handle the executive management, policies and measures adopted by government departments over matters of livelihood.
Point two. The directors of the two municipal services departments are like the executive directors of the two municipal councils. They are responsible to the two councils and directly responsible to the Chief Secretary. Documents presented to the two municipal councils for discussion are produced by the municipal services departments. When members want to raise matters for discussion, they can only do so when they get to the last part of the meeting on other matters. On the other hand, the directors can control the width and depth of information provided to council members. The two municipal services departments may well be the executive arms of their respective municipal councils, administratively speaking, the tens of thousands of their staff are managed by officers of respective municipal services departments. All staff members are responsible to the directors of the two municipal services departments. Council members have no say over the appointments, promotions and transfers of officers. This executive-led structure is very clearly shown that municipal services are government led.
Point three. The work of the Hygiene Division of the Department of Health is to monitor food sold in Hong Kong, regulate the import of food items, issue certifications for export food items, promote the work of the Pest Control Advisory Section and implement the activities of the Health Education Unit. The Hygiene Division of the Department of Health is of course accountable to the Director of Health and the Director of Health is naturally accountable to the policy bureau of Health and Welfare Bureau. The expenditure of the Hygiene Division under the Department of Health is paid by the two
Page 149 of 606.
Page 149 of 606
Tage 149 of 606
VI
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
incident. I shall analyse comprehensively from an overall angle as well as outline the causes of and resolutions to our series of food hygiene incidents. I shall also cover the role played by the Urban Council and Regional Council in these incidents.
First of all, the answer to the question of accountability towards food safety and environmental hygiene under the present set-up is very clear. Government is responsible and operationally, the mode is administration led.
Point one. The two municipal councils are financially independent, but their role is restricted to monitoring of the two administrative municipal services departments, devising policies on culture, recreation, hygiene, market traders, establishing and amending relevant municipal and public health ordinances, issuing licences in respect of matters associated with municipal services and managing municipal sites and facilities through the executive departments. The two municipal councils monitor the expenditure of the executive departments through a detailed and highly transparent system. Quite a large proportion of the expenditure goes to the salaries of staff of the two municipal services departments. The two municipal councils can also move motions for debate and ask questions at monthly meetings to handle the executive management, policies and measures adopted by government departments over matters of livelihood.
Point two. The directors of the two municipal services departments are like the executive directors of the two municipal councils. They are responsible to the two councils and directly responsible to the Chief Secretary. Documents presented to the two municipal councils for discussion are produced by the municipal services departments. When members want to raise matters for discussion, they can only do so when they get to the last part of the meeting on other matters. On the other hand, the directors can control the width and depth of information provided to council members. The two municipal services departments may well be the executive arms of their respective municipal councils, administratively speaking, the tens of thousands of their staff are managed by officers of respective municipal services departments. All staff members are responsible to the directors of the two municipal services departments. Council members have no say over the appointments, promotions and transfers of officers. This executive-led structure is very clearly shown that municipal services are government led.
Point three. The work of the Hygiene Division of the Department of Health is to monitor food sold in Hong Kong, regulate the import of food items, issue certifications for export food items, promote the work of the Pest Control Advisory Section and implement the activities of the Health Education Unit. The Hygiene Division of the Department of Health is of course accountable to the Director of Health and the Director of Health is naturally accountable to the policy bureau of Health and Welfare Bureau. The expenditure of the Hygiene Division under the Department of Health is paid by the two
Page 149 of 606.
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