ENG-2000 — Page 50

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

The unit consults widely with business and professional circles, political organisations and pressure groups and the academic community. It undertakes in- depth examination of complex policy issues, analyses options and recommends practical solutions for the Government's internal consideration. The unit is responsible for co-ordinating the annual Policy Address exercise. It also provides secretariat support for the Commission on Strategic Development, which is chaired by the Chief Executive.

Role of the Efficiency Unit

The Efficiency Unit reports directly to the Chief Secretary for Administration and aims to pursue the Government's commitment to transform the management and delivery of public services so that community needs are met in the most effective and efficient manner.

The unit serves as a focal point to direct and secure improvement through promoting best practice. It integrates a variety of initiatives into a management framework that gives a clear direction to public sector reform. Initially, this work focused on a Serving the Community Programme to transform the service culture in the public sector and to make the Government more open, accountable and customer friendly. Although work continues on this aspect more recent priorities have been achieving improvement in productivity, developing 'joined-up' government so that departments work to common goals, and exploiting new technology and private sector skills and experience. Specific activities include target setting and performance measurement, establishing 'electronic' or e-government strategies and providing support for departments that are outsourcing work to the private sector.

Structure of the Administration

The HKSAR Government is organised into bureaux and departments. The bureaux, each headed by a policy secretary, collectively form the Government Secretariat. In 2000, there were 16 policy bureaux of which two were resource bureaux concerned with finance and the Public Service respectively.

There are 70 departments and agencies whose heads are, with some exceptions, responsible to the bureau secretaries for the direction of their departments and the efficient implementation of approved policy. The exceptions are the Audit Commission, the independence of which is safeguarded by having the Director report directly to the Legislative Council; the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Office of The Ombudsman, whose independence is safeguarded by having the Commissioner and The Ombudsman report directly to the Chief Executive; and the Department of Justice, which is the responsibility of the Secretary for Justice.

Office of The Ombudsman

The Office of The Ombudsman is an independent statutory authority operating in accordance with The Ombudsman Ordinance. It was set up to give citizens means through which an independent authority can investigate and report on grievances arising from administrative decisions, acts, recommendations or omissions. The Ombudsman is directly responsible to the Chief Executive. She serves as the community's watchdog to ensure that bureaucratic constraints do not interfere with administrative fairness; public authorities are readily accessible to the public; abuses of power are prevented; wrongs are righted; facts are pointed out when public officers

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