ENG-2017 — Page 46

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Constitution and Administration

presents budgetary proposals and moves the Appropriation Bill, which gives legal effect to the annual expenditure proposals in the Budget.

Central Policy Unit (to be renamed Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office)

To support the new term of government's new role as a facilitator, the Central Policy Unit underwent a review from July and will be revamped as the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office. The new office will come into formal operation in April 2018. It will be responsible for policy research and innovation, rendering assistance in coordination work on cross-bureau policies selected by the senior leadership of the government, and providing first-stop and one- stop project consultation and coordination services for innovative projects that would bring broader public interest. The office will provide secretariat support for the Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development and conduct evidence-based policy research following the council's steer. It will also continue to coordinate the annual Policy Address exercise.

The new office will promote public participation during the policy formulation process and collaborate with the academia, research institutes and think tanks for capacity building in public policy research in Hong Kong. It will also continue to manage the Public Policy Research. Funding Scheme.

The Central Policy Unit provided secretariat support to the Commission on Strategic Development, whose term ended on 30 June. The unit also assisted in the preparation of the Report on the Work of the Fourth-term Government.

Efficiency Unit

The Efficiency Unit reports to the Chief Secretary for Administration. It provides management consultancy to help government agencies improve the quality and value of public services, and helps develop new service models for more engaging and effective public services. The unit also provides support to the Commission on Poverty's Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force to promote innovation in addressing social needs.

The unit runs the government contact centre 1823 and the Gov.HK website's youth portal. These projects provide insight into public concerns and emerging trends that help the unit develop ideas for adapting and improving services to meet community needs.

The unit will be transferred to the Innovation and Technology Bureau in April 2018 to build a stronger team and make better use of the $500 million earmarked for technology application in departments to further promote innovation and technology development within the government.

Advisory and Statutory Bodies

About 5,600 members of the public serve on around 490 advisory and statutory bodies, which are a distinctive feature of the system of government. These bodies tap professional expertise in the community and allow a wide cross-section of the community and relevant organisations to take part in the initial stage of policymaking and public-service planning, and to perform

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