Chief Executive John Lee visited Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group today (Sept. 19) and mentioned in a joint interview that the Policy Address announced the establishment of a "Heads of Department (HoDs) Accountability System." This system aims to "manage the heads, manage the generals, so that they in turn manage their subordinates well." He believes that good daily management can bring about significant changes.
Lee noted that since taking office, he has actively optimized the internal culture of the government to ensure "results-oriented" outcomes. He analogized, "Those working in a factory cannot just focus on 'sweeping the floor' and 'arranging tools properly'—they must also produce results, such as manufacturing cars and food."
Lee stated that the responsibility of department heads for policy implementation has always existed, but lacked systematization and institutionalization. Therefore, by "managing the heads, managing the generals, so that they in turn manage their subordinates well," and complementing this with the government's hierarchical management approach, the leadership role of government department heads and senior civil servants will be strengthened, ensuring government efficiency.
The new Policy Address announced the establishment of a "Heads of Department (HoDs) Accountability System." When problems arise in a department, deficiencies must be identified and addressed, responsibilities clarified, and penalties imposed based on the severity of the shortcomings, including dismissal. The accountability system has three main objectives: first, to better align the political accountability of bureau secretaries with the administrative accountability of civil servants in execution; second, to promote department heads in establishing management and operational systems to enhance departmental efficiency; and third, to identify deficiencies and responsibilities when problems occur in a department and implement improvements.
Lee explained that his primary goal is to achieve the second objective. As long as responsibilities are clearly defined, there will be no room for shirking accountability, which can help prevent problems from arising. He emphasized, "No matter how the Chief Executive plans policies, departmental cooperation is needed for implementation so that citizens can experience the results of these policies."
Lee specifically mentioned the "whole-of-government mobilization" mechanism he promoted after taking office. For example, departments have improved their response speed in handling typhoons and flooding incidents compared to the past. "Of course, there is no best, only better." He cited the example of the Kai Tak Sports Park, where multiple drills enabled the smooth evacuation of over 50,000 people. "The sports park is not solely the responsibility of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau. I thank the government personnel who participated in the drills for providing valuable feedback, such as issues with network connectivity and the need for transportation improvements. If we wait for these problems to occur in real situations, it would lead to chaos."
(Reporter: Wang Junjie, Liu Yanling, Zhou Yuhan | English Editor: Liu Yu)
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