20 | Constitution and Administration
THEC, Hong Kong also met personnel from the political, economic and trade, cultural sectors in Taiwan.
Consensus was reached on priority areas of co-operation, including tourism, financial supervision co-operation, air services, enhanced economic co-operation and establishment of a multi-functional office in Taiwan, an important starting point in institutionalising communication and liaison between Hong Kong and Taiwan.
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.
Through these bodies, a wide cross-section of the community and relevant organisations can participate in the initial stage of policy-making and public service planning.
The advisory bodies' 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.
About 4900 members of the public are serving on over 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 57 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
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