Gov’t to establish accountability system to enhance governance

The plan adds an AI team and stricter appraisals to boost accountability.

The Hong Kong government aims to establish an accountability system for the heads of departments, strengthen the performance appraisal system for civil servants and set up an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Efficacy Enhancement Team to further enhance governance.

In his recent policy address, Chief Executive John Lee said the government plans to establish the Heads of Departments (HoDs) Accountability System to render the political accountability required of Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaus in policy formulation, and the administrative accountability required of civil servants in implementing policy initiatives better articulated with each other, with clarification of their respective roles.

The system will also drive the heads of departments to establish an effective management team and operating systems. Additionally, its goal is to identify the deficiencies whenever a problem occurs in a department, putting in place improvements, attributing responsibility to the appropriate parties, and taking administrative or disciplinary actions against those responsible in accordance with the civil service management regime.

Investigations will be divided into two tiers. Lee explained that if the problems are of a general nature, the investigation should be taken up by the HoD concerned.

If a serious problem occurs in a department or the problem is widespread or a repetitive, systemic one, or there are indications that the HoD concerned is implicated in the problem, the investigation will be carried out by an investigation panel set up specifically under the HoD Accountability System.

The panel should be independent from the Government, such that the investigation will be impartial and independent.

Furthermore, in addition to having the ability to examine civil servants of all ranks to ensure that the investigation is thorough, the panel should be familiar with the general operation of the Government to ensure the investigation is completed efficiently.

Also, the panel should be a standing team to be called upon, ensuring its certainty and readiness.

To achieve such a goal, the government will expand the existing functions of the Public Service Commission to enable it to conduct investigations.

Lee also announced that the Civil Service Bureau is tasked with conducting a study to develop a more rigorous performance appraisal system for civil servants that reflects and differentiates the performance levels of staff more effectively.

In addition, an AI Efficacy Enhancement Team will be set up to further enhance the government’s efficacy.

Apart from coordinating and steering government departments to apply AI technology effectively to their work, the team will also explore process re‑engineering and promote technological reform in departments.

The team will be led by the Deputy Chief Secretary, with the Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry and the Commissioner for Digital Policy serving as the Deputy Leader and Secretary General respectively.

The government will also invite a representative from the private sector to serve as another Deputy Leader, to bring in new perspectives and front‑line market experience.

The team will examine with government departments their need for reform, with priority given to departments with greater interface with the public. Departments may also initiate a request to the team for prioritised assistance in enhancing their efficiency.

The Chief Executive emphasised that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will, as always, maintain the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR as stipulated under the Constitution and the Basic Law, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.