ENG-1996 — Page 43

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

executive functions, such as the Hospital Authority. There are also local committees concerned with the affairs of particular areas and neighbourhoods, such as District Fight Crime Committees.

Government officials and members of the public are represented on these advisory boards and committees. About 3 100 members of the public have been appointed to serve on a total of about 290 advisory boards and committees, and some serve on more than one. These members are appointed for their specialist knowledge or expertise, or for their record or interest in contributing to community service. Government constantly keeps in view the composition and operation of the advisory bodies to ensure that they meet the needs of the community. Where appropriate, suitable measures are introduced to enhance their transparency and repre-

sentativeness.

The Administration

Role of the Chief Secretary

The Chief Secretary is principally responsible to the Governor for the formulation of government policies and their implementation. As the head of the Public Service, the Chief Secretary is one of the Governor's principal advisers, along with the Financial Secretary and the Attorney General.

The Chief Secretary exercises direction primarily as head of the Government Secretariat, the central organisation comprising the secretaries of the policy branches and resource branches and their staff. She deputises for the Governor during his absence, and is the Senior Official Member of the Executive Council.

Role of the Financial Secretary

The Financial Secretary, who reports directly to the Governor, is responsible for the fiscal and economic policies of the government. He is an ex officio member of the Executive Council and regularly attends meetings of the Legislative Council as senior government representative.

As the government official with primary responsibility for Hong Kong's fiscal, monetary and economic policies, the Financial Secretary oversees the operations of the Finance, Financial Services, Trade and Industry, Economic Services, and Works Branches of the Government Secretariat, and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He also chairs the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee.

The Financial Secretary is responsible under the Public Finance Ordinance for laying before the legislature each year the government's estimates of revenue and expenditure. He delivers the annual budget speech, outlining the government's budgetary proposals and moving the adoption of the Appropriation Bill, which gives legal effect to the annual expenditure proposals contained in the budget.

Role of the Central Policy Unit

The Central Policy Unit provides a confidential source of advice to meet the special requirements of the Governor, the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary and reports directly to them. It seeks to combine the organisational strengths and expertise of the Civil Service with the best features of private sector practice.

The unit consults widely with business_and_professional circles, political organisations and pressure groups and the academie communi. undertakes in-

HONG KONG CENTRAL REFERENCE LIBRARY

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