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Following is the statement on appointments under the Accountability System announced by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at Government House today (June 24):
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have just issued press releases to announce the appointments of Principal Officials for the Second Term, Members of the Executive Council, Director of the Chief Executive's Office and the Head of the Central Policy Unit. We have also announced the appointments of Permanent Secretaries.
These appointments signify the establishment of the Principal Officials Accountability System. The development marks the dawning of a new era for the governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In the next five years, we will be a government which is more accountable to the people of Hong Kong. Ours will be an open, enlightened and progressive government. We will be an administration which feels the pulse of the community and which places importance on public sentiments. Ours will also be a government which is fully committed to Hong Kong and which has the resolve to work closely with different sectors to pursue the overall interest of the community.
The new team is chosen from among different sectors of the community. This reflects the resolve of the Government to attract talents from a broad spectrum, to ensure that we have the most capable people in the community to take charge of each policy portfolio, to reach out to different sectors within the community, and to work for the interest of Hong Kong as a whole. The new team also clearly reflects my resolve to put into practice a new style of governance which works for the betterment of Hong Kong.
I wish to emphasise my firm belief that the Hong Kong Civil Service is of high quality, uncorrupt, efficient, politically neutral and dedicated to serving the community. Over the years, members of the civil service have won the trust of Hong Kong people. The civil service is an important institution which underpins the governance of the HKSAR. It is also one of our fundamental strengths for maintaining Hong Kong's competitiveness in the face of globalisation. To myself, to the HKSAR Government and to Hong Kong as a whole, it is of crucial importance that we preserve the integrity and stability of the civil service. In pursuing any reforms, I will not allow the integrity and stability of the civil service to be compromised. On the contrary, I intend to strengthen these core values in the process of reforms.
Among the eleven Directors of Bureaux who are newly appointed, six are senior civil service colleagues who have accumulated valuable experience, professionalism and expertise over the years. We also have five new candidates appointed from among the business, professional and academic sectors. They will bring with them new ideas and perspectives.
I also warmly welcome the five community leaders who will serve as Members of the Executive Council together with the Principal Officials under the Accountability System. These five Members come from a variety of backgrounds covering the labour sector, the business sector, the legal profession and the political sector. I have every confidence that with their input, the Executive Council will be strengthened.
The Principal Officials and the Members of the Executive Council are fully commited to Hong Kong and bring with them a rich collection of abilities and experience. This will be extremely helpful to me in shaping policies to overcome the challenges which Hong Kong need to address.
I am also delighted that we have announced the line-up of Permanent Secretaries to complement the appointments of Principal Officials under the Accountability System. I wish to emphasise that to my mind, and to that of the Principal Officials and Members of the Executive Council, the Permanent Secretaries play a most crucial role in policy formulation and implementation, and in gaining support from the Legislative Council, the media and the community. The Permanent Secretaries and the Hong Kong Civil Service make a contribution which is invaluable and irreplaceable.
The successful implementation of the Accountability System has been made possible with support of the legislature and different sectors of the community. The Legislative Council in particular has put in a lot of efforts in their deliberations and has provided a most valuable contribution in many respects.
I look forward to having the whole community supporting this group of Principal Officials as the Second Term begins. Thank you very much.
End/Monday, June 24, 2002
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