ENG-2008 — Page 56

16 Constitution and Administration

Advisory and Statutory Bodies

The network of advisory and statutory bodies is a distinctive feature of the system of government. Its purpose is to tap professional expertise present in the community and to encourage public participation in government decision-making.

Advisory bodies give advice to the Government through senior government officials such as Principal Officials, Permanent Secretaries of Bureaux or department heads. A few advisory bodies pass their advice directly to the Chief Executive. The boards' areas of activities are wide-ranging. Some, such as the Telecommunications Numbering Advisory Committee, deal with the interests of a particular industry. Others, such as the Transport Advisory Committee, advise on a particular area of government policy, while the District Councils deal with district affairs. Statutory bodies, such as the Hospital Authority, have legal powers and responsibilities to perform specific functions in accordance with the relevant legislations.

Over 4 000 members of the public are serving on about 400 advisory and statutory bodies. They include people who are representatives of the relevant professions or the community, and appointees by the Government mainly because of their expertise, knowledge or experience, and contribution to the work of the bodies concerned.

The Government oversees the running of the advisory and statutory bodies to make sure they operate efficiently and that they meet the needs of the community. The practice of bringing in a reasonable number of new members is maintained to ensure a continuing inflow of fresh and different ideas to these bodies. The Government will continue to broaden community participation in advisory and statutory bodies and make their operations more visible.

Structure of the Administration

The Chief Executive is the head of the Government of the HKSAR. The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary or the Secretary for Justice deputises for the Chief Executive during his temporary absence.

There are currently 12 bureaux, each headed by a Director of Bureau. Together, they form the Government Secretariat. There are 58 departments whose heads are responsible to the Directors of Bureaux for the direction of their departments and the efficient implementation of approved policies. The Audit Commission, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Office of The Ombudsman report directly to the Chief Executive.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Justice and the 12 Directors of Bureaux (also known as Secretaries of Bureaux) are politically appointed Principal Officials. They are held accountable for matters falling within their respective portfolios.