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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, has explained the benefits of the government's new accountability system during talks with UK ministers in London today (July 4, London time).
Mr Tsang briefed The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Jack Straw, on the new system which came into effect on July 1.
Mr Tsang also outlined details of the system to more than 150 guests, including HRH The Duke of York, during the Gala Launch of the Hong Kong Festival in London.
The lunch was attended by a wide cross-section of politicians and dignitaries, diplomats, business leaders and personalities from the arts, culture and entertainment sectors.
The Chief Secretary for Administration told guests the new team of Principal Officials would function much like Cabinet Ministers under the Westminster system.
"This new level of political appointees will be responsible for setting the government's policy agenda and building a consensus for these policies within the community," he said.
"It also means that our top civil servants will no longer need to play the dual role of both professional head of department and political 'minister'.
"I am sure that the new system will allow us to build a very effective partnership between the political appointees and the permanent civil service.
"We are building a home-grown system of administration that will make our government more attuned to the needs and aspirations of the community. In other words, a system of government 'Made in Hong Kong'."
Other topics discussed with Lord Irvine and Mr Straw included the development of Hong Kong's legal profession, the latest economic situation in the SAR and business opportunities in Mainland China.
Tomorrow, Mr Tsang will holds talks with the chairmen of UK eUniversities and the English Speaking Union as well as the Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet (designate) Sir Andrew Turnbull.
End/Friday, July 5, 2002
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- Photo
1: The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, holds
talks in London today (London time, July 4) with the UK's Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Jack Straw.
