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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

The Government has conducted a review of the Accountability System for Principal Officials one year after its implementation. The review concluded that, in overall terms, the implementation of the Accountability System is an important step forward in constitutional development in Hong Kong and a step in the right direction. However, the Government recognises that its first year of operation was not entirely smooth. The system will take time to evolve and develop.

Role of the Chief Secretary for Administration

The Chief Secretary for Administration is the leading Principal Official of the HKSAR Government. He is the most senior among the three Secretaries of Departments available to deputise for the Chief Executive.

The Chief Secretary for Administration assists the Chief Executive in supervising the policy bureaux as directed by him and plays a key role in ensuring harmonisation in policy formulation and implementation. This is particularly important in areas which cut across policy bureaux.

The Chief Secretary for Administration also covers specific priority areas of the Chief Executive's policy agenda, and is responsible for forging a closer and more. effective working relationship with the Legislative Council and for drawing up the Government's legislative programme. The Chief Secretary for Administration exercises statutory functions vested in him by law, such as those concerning certain public bodies and the handling of appeals.

Role of the Financial Secretary

The Financial Secretary reports directly to the Chief Executive. Working closely with the relevant Directors of Bureaux, he oversees policy formulation and implementation in financial, monetary, economic, trade and employment matters. He also chairs. several important committees, including the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee and the Banking Advisory Committee.

The Financial Secretary is responsible under the Public Finance Ordinance for laying before the Legislative Council each year the Government's estimates of revenue and expenditure. In his annual budget speech, he outlines the Government's budgetary proposals and moves the Appropriation Bill, which gives legal effect to the annual expenditure proposals contained in the Budget.

Central Policy Unit

The Central Policy Unit provides advice on policy issues to meet the special requirements of the Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary, and reports direct to them.

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

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