Political Appointments System in Hong Kong - Background

Background

In mid-2005, Chief Executive Donald Tsang mooted a system for developing political career path for aspiring politicians by creating middle-ranking posts. Constitutional Affairs minister Stephen Lam said he hoped arrangements would help extend opportunities for political participation and widen the pool of talent whilst preserving a permanent, professional and politically neutral civil service. He promised more ideas would be announced in the Chief Executive's Policy Address in October, saying proposals would be open for consultation by the civil service, political groups and the community.

On 26 July 2006, the government issued its proposal for political appointees, under which two new posts, Deputy Directors of Bureaux and Assistants to Directors would be added to the political appointment layer for each of Hong Kong's 11 policy bureaux. Thus, each Director will be assisted by the two new appointees constituting the political team; civil servants would carry out the administrative and executive tasks of the Government.

There was some confusion on the launch of the consultation paper: Donald Tsang had informed the press corps on 17 July, during his Singapore trip, that the proposal would be launched at the end of the summer vacation. However, its passage through the Executive Council was reportedly hastened as a result of the heightened debate on universal suffrage driven by Regina Ip and Anson Chan, undeclared candidates in the Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007.

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