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Constitution and Administration 25

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

Role of the Financial Secretary

The Financial Secretary's primary responsibility is to assist the Chief Executive in overseeing policy formulation and implementation of financial, monetary, economic, trade and development matters. He exercises control over the Exchange Fund with the assistance of the Monetary Authority. He is a member of the Executive Council.

The Financial Secretary is also in charge of the Government Budget. He 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 vision and policies for sustainable economic development, and he presents 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 submits reports directly to them.

The unit consults widely with business and professional circles, political organisations and concerned groups, and the academic community. It undertakes in-depth examinations of complex policy issues, analyses options, conducts soundings of community feedback and recommends solutions for the Government's internal consideration. It also carries out research studies on various issues in Hong Kong, as well as the Mainland and on regional co-operation. The unit is also responsible for co-ordinating the annual Policy Address exercise.

In addition, the unit provides secretariat support to the Commission on Strategic Development, which advises the Chief Executive on Hong Kong's long-term development needs and goals with particular reference to the direction and strategy of social, economic and political developments for Hong Kong. The Chief Executive chairs the commission with 69 non-official members drawn from many fields, including the academia, the business sector, the professional sector, the media, think tanks, the welfare sector and political parties. The commission also comprises four official members: the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Director of the Chief Executive's Office and the Head of the Central Policy Unit.

Efficiency Unit

The Efficiency Unit reports to the Chief Secretary for Administration, supporting the Government's commitment to improving services to the community and ensuring openness and accountability. The unit provides internal management consultancy