ENG-2008 — Page 58

18 Constitution and Administration

As a follow-up to the Economic Summit held in September 2006 to discuss how Hong Kong should respond to the challenges and opportunities arising from the National 11th Five-Year Plan, an Action Agenda setting out 50 strategic directions and 207 proposed specific measures to be taken by the Government was submitted to the Chief Executive in January 2007. As at the end of 2008, over 130 of those specific measures had been implemented.

Efficiency Unit

The Efficiency Unit reports directly to the Chief Secretary for Administration. It is tasked with pursuing public sector reform and serves as the management consultancy arm of the government. It advocates customer-centric services and provides strategic and implementable solutions for various bureaux and departments.

The unit operates an integrated call centre which provides a one-stop enquiry and complaint handling service for 20 departments and a 'Youth Portal' which provides an internet platform for young people to access government information and services easily. The call centre won various awards in 2008, including the Gold Award for the Contact Centre in the Annual Hong Kong Call Centre Association Awards. Nurturing a growing membership with its unique contents, the Youth Portal won the Silver Award of the e-Inclusion Campaign 2008.

The Civil Service

The civil service employs about 4 per cent of Hong Kong's labour force. It provides staff for all government departments and other units of the Administration. At December 31, 2008, the total strength of the civil service was 154 300 (excluding about 1 500 judges and judicial officers and ICAC officers).

Overall policy responsibility for the management of the civil service lies with the Civil Service Bureau of the Government Secretariat. The bureau's remit includes making policies on appointments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training and development, conduct and discipline and use of official languages in the civil service. The bureau is also the focal point for consultation with major staff associations. It takes care of the management of Administrative Officer, Executive Officer, Official Languages Officer, Training Officer, Simultaneous Interpreter, Calligraphist as well as the clerical and secretarial grades staff. Management of the civil service is governed mainly by three important instruments: the Public Service (Administration) Order, the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation and the Civil Service Regulations, all made with the authority of the Chief Executive.

The Public Service Commission is an independent statutory body set up under the Public Service Commission Ordinance. Its fundamental role is to advise the Chief Executive on appointments, promotions and discipline in the civil service. The Government is also advised on civil service pay and conditions of service by three independent bodies: the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (directorate officers excluding judges and judicial officers and the disciplined services, but including the heads of the disciplined services); the Standing