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Following is a question by Hon Audrey Eu and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
Under the reorganisation of the policy bureaux of the Government Secretariat on July 1, 2007, the post of Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works was upgraded from D6 to D8 on the Directorate Pay Scale and re-titled as Permanent Secretary for the Environment. The post holder continues to assume the title of the Director of Environmental Protection for the purpose of carrying out statutory functions under various pieces of environmental protection-related legislation. Regarding the concern of the staff of the Environmental Protection Officer grade that it would be difficult for them to be promoted to this post in the future and their doubts over the management of the Environmental Protection Department ("EPD") by a person who was also a Permanent Secretary, the Government undertook at the meeting of this Council on June 14, 2007 to rationalise these problems in the latter half of 2007, and to consult the management and staff representatives of EPD. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the details of the views expressed by staff representatives of EPD on the aforesaid problems during consultation; and
(b) whether the aforesaid problems have been rationalised; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and when and how the problems will be rationalised?
Reply:
President,
In the Re-organisation of Policy Bureaux of the Government Secretariat which took effect from July 1, 2007, the post of Permanent Secretary for the Environment which was pitched at AOSGA(D6) was upgraded to AOSGA1(D8) to reflect the expanded scope of responsibilities of the post. At the same time, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment continued to assume the title of the Director of Environmental Protection for the purpose of carrying out statutory functions under various related legislations.
During the deliberation of the above re-organisation, the following views were expressed by the Environmental Protection Officers Branch of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association:
(i) upgrading the post of Permanent Secretary for the Environment/Director of Environmental Protection from the rank of D6 to D8 on the Director Pay Scale would adversely affect the prospects of colleagues of the professional grade to be promoted to the post of the Director; and
(ii) the post of Director of Environmental Protection should be reinstated and filled by colleagues of the professional grade, who would advise the Permanent Secretary and assist her in formulating and effectively implementing environmental policies.
The Environment Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department and the Civil Service Bureau are reviewing the concerns and views of the Environmental Protection Officers Branch. The assumption of the title of the Director of Environmental Protection by the Permanent Secretary for the Environment was supported by the Establishment Subcommittee of the Legco and endorsed by the Finance Committee. The main consideration, among others, was the need to consolidate the views of those representing the professional as well as the public policy sides at the early stage of policy formulation process so as to enhance efficiency. Therefore, in reviewing whether there is a case to reinstate the post of the Director of Environmental Protection, we must carefully consider the effects on the efficiency in policy formulation. Moreover, we must also study the long-term effects in other aspects, including the organisation, establishment and work arrangement of the Environment Bureau/Environmental Protection Department. The Administration is well aware that support from departmental staff is crucial in pursuing organisational optimisation proposals and will consult departmental staff when we have detailed proposals.
Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:39
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