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In response to a radio broadcast by the Honourable Martin Lee, a Government spokesman made the following statement today (April 21) :

The new Accountability System will improve Hong Kong's governance as well as preserve the integrity of our civil service system.

The new arrangement, whereby the Chief Executive will have his team of Policy Secretaries in the Executive Council, underpinned by a permanent civil service, is very similar to that which applies in mature and developed jurisdictions around the world. Hong Kong believes in open, fair and impartial administration.

We already have in Hong Kong an open government, an independent judiciary, a representative legislature and a free press. Introduction of the Accountability System will complement these institutions and strengthen the accountability of the Government to the public.

As stated by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, in the Legislative Council last Wednesday, the new system will enable Principal Officials to work as a team to set, coordinate and implement policies more effectively to meet the needs of the community. They will also be able to meet proactively the challenges facing Hong Kong.

The checks and balances designed for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, including those in respect of the Chief Executive and the Executive Authorities, will not be diminished following introduction of the Accountability System. The Legislative Council will continue to play the same important role in holding the Government accountable. In accordance with the Basic Law, the HKSAR Government will be responsible to the Legislative Council by implementing laws passed, presenting regular policy addresses, answering questions raised by members and obtaining the Council's approval for taxation and public expenditure.

Through the introduction of the Accountability System, the Chief Executive will be devolving power further, not only to the Secretaries of Departments, but also to the Directors of Bureaux. They will be appointed to the Executive Council. They will be in the position to exercise authority and assume responsibility for developing, proposing and implementing policies within their portfolio.

Principal Officials appointed under the Accountability System will take steps to gain broader public support for their initiatives. They will strengthen the communication and liaison with the public by visiting the districts regularly and liaising closely with professional bodies, trade bodies and other functional groups. The new team will be proactive in conducting opinion polls to gauge the views of the public in implementing policies.

The Chief Executive has explained that the introduction of a new Principal Official Accountability System on top of the current civil service system will better maintain the permanency, professionalism and political neutrality of the civil service, which have been established through years of experience and efforts.

Permanent Secretaries will be appointed to assist their Directors of Bureaux to administer the respective Policy Bureaux and Departments. The Permanent Secretaries and their colleagues will continue to constitute Hong Kong's professional, meritocratic and politically neutral civil service. The permanent civil service will continue to serve the people of Hong Kong and transcend the changes of government following future elections of the Chief Executive.

The response to the questions posed by Mr Lee are straightforward:

* Hong Kong people support implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" according to the Basic Law. The Chief Executive is elected by a broadly representative Election Committee. Under the Basic Law, the Chief Executive is accountable to the Central People's Government and the HKSAR. He will lead the team of Principal Officials to be accountable to the people of Hong Kong.

* The Accountability system has been designed to maintain the permanent, meritocratic, politically neutral and uncorrupt civil service.

* The Government's policy is to maintain overall stability in the housing market. This is being achieved.

* The Government has given a full account of the Cyberport project to the Legislative Council and obtained Members' support for public works associated with the project.

End/Sunday, April 21, 2002

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