The plan will create a layer of 14 top posts for political appointees who will report directly to Tung.

The chief executive told legislators the new system will make the administration more responsive to the public's needs and more responsible for the government's actions.

He brushed aside fears that it will help him monopolize more power.

"If you think all the people who join the government will listen to my voice only, you're underestimating them," Tung told lawmakers. "If I can only employ such people, then it's my failure."

He explained that the Basic Law provides that the chief executive is the head of the Hong Kong SAR government and it is up to the CE to determine how to delegate his authority according to his policy agenda.

"As the Basic Law has already conferred all necessary power to the chief executive, there is no need for the power to be strengthened by the new system.

"In fact, the chief executive will be devolving his authority to all these 14 officials, so that in assuming responsibility for their respective portfolios, they will have the authority to formulate, co-ordinate and implement policies," Tung explained.

The new echelon comprises the chief secretary for administration (CS), financial secretary (FS), secretary for justice and 11 policy secretaries. All the 14 officials are on the same reporting line to Tung.

The post of secretary for the civil service, though a political appointment, will be filled by a senior civil servant to make sure that the stability, professionalism and political neutrality of the civil service are preserved.

All of the officials will be appointed on contract terms for five years, and the chief executive has the authority to nominate them and terminate their contracts when necessary.

They will all sit on the Executive Council (ExCo) so that they will participate in policy- and decision-making.

The present ExCo secretariat will be transferred to the Chief Executive's Office to facilitate decision-making process in the ExCo, said Tung.

The position of information co-coordinator, who serves as Tung's spokesman, will be re-titled director of the Chief Executive's Office to oversee the work of the ExCo Secretariat and continue to work with the media.

The chief executive will continue to rely on the CS and FS to oversee and co-ordinate the work of the policy bureaus.

They will also co-ordinate the work in respect of important policy agendas and priorities set by the chief executive and ExCo, Tung said.

In the last year or so, the CS has overseen Guangdong/Hong Kong co-operation and major infrastructure co-ordination, while the FS has been in charge of discussions with the mainland on the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

Tung said: "This method will not be changed following the introduction of the accountability system. But the role of the ExCo will be enhanced as the CS and FS will chair certain ExCo sub-committees to pre-examine proposals to be submitted to ExCo."

On selecting a senior civil servant to be the new secretary for the civil service, Tung said this will guarantee the new principal officials have a full understanding and appreciation of the civil service structure and system.

Since he will be a member of the ExCo, he will be able to represent the interests of civil servants in the highest level of policy decisions.

He stressed that the checks and balances for the government will not diminish after the launch of the new system. "The Legislative Council will continue to play the same important role in holding the government accountable," Tung said.

(China Daily April 18, 2002)