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LCQ5: The arrangement for CE's report to Central People's Government
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     Following is a question by the Hon Cyd Ho and a reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (March 18):

Question:

     It has been reported that the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council told the media in December 2013 that the arrangements for the Chief Executive (CE) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to pay duty visits to the Central People's Government (CPG) to report on his work (reporting arrangements) would be standardised.  Subsequently, CE paid another duty visit to Beijing to report on his work (reporting visit) on December 25 last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) by whom the documents relating to the report on his work (reporting documents) submitted by CE to CPG are written, edited and vetted; of the differences and similarities between the scopes of their contents and those of the policy addresses, progress reports and government budgets published annually, together with the table of contents, as well as the word count of each item in the various documents, of the latest set of reporting documents; the number of reporting documents which the incumbent and past CEs had to submit to CPG when they paid reporting visits to CPG prior to December 25 last year;

(2) whether the SAR Government has archived the reporting documents in accordance with the records management procedures and guidelines; of the respective numbers of reporting documents submitted by the SAR Government to CPG and the documents on reporting arrangements and SAR governance received by the SAR Government from CPG since 1997; whether such documents are available for public inspection; if they are not, of the reasons for that, and whether they are, according to the records management procedures and guidelines, documents which will be available for public inspection after a certain number of years; and

(3) of the differences and similarities between the procedures involved in CE's reporting visits to CPG after the standardization of the reporting arrangements (including but not limited to the manpower and procedures for writing, editing and vetting reporting documents) and those in the past; whether, besides CE, any official of the SAR Government is required to account for his work to CPG and/or other mainland authorities; whether the SAR Government will consider providing reporting documents to this Council prior to CEs reporting visits for the Council to hold debates on their contents?

Reply:

President,

     The Government's consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Cyd Ho is as follows:

     Pursuant to Article 43 of the Basic Law, the Chief Executive (CE) shall be the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and shall represent the HKSAR, and shall be accountable to the Central People's Government (CPG) and the HKSAR in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law.  Besides, Article 48 stipulates that CE shall lead the government of the HKSAR; be responsible for the implementation of the Basic Law and other laws which, in accordance with the Basic Law, apply in the HKSAR; implement the directives issued by the CPG in respect of the relevant matters provided for in the Basic Law; and conduct, on behalf of the HKSAR Government, external affairs and other affairs as authorised by the Central Authorities.  Under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the provisions of the Basic Law, CE has a special and important constitutional role.  Accordingly, CE regularly reports to the CPG on the work of the HKSAR Government and the situation of the HKSAR.

     Since assumption of office, the incumbent CE has been making detailed, comprehensive, objective and truthful reports to state leaders on the situation of the HKSAR and the work of the HKSAR Government. State leaders have fully affirmed the work of CE and the HKSAR Government.

     During the annual duty visit, CE meets with the state leaders and makes oral reports. This is normally preceded by a written report to the CPG. The written report covers mainly the latest economic, social and political situation of the HKSAR, work of the HKSAR Government, and matters which the HKSAR Government wishes to seek the support of the CPG.

     CE's Office co-ordinates the compilation of the written report, which will be submitted to the CPG through the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and properly filed in accordance with the established records management requirements of the HKSAR Government.

     Every time before CE makes a duty visit to Beijing, CE's Office announces the arrangements in a press release. While in Beijing, CE also updates media on the developments of the visit.  As regards the Legislative Council, CE reports on the work progress of the HKSAR Government and introduces work priorities in the coming year in his annual Policy Address. CE also attends Question and Answer Sessions of the Legislative Council regularly to respond to Members' questions.

Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:54

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