Policy Address

(C) Further Enhance Governance

Establish the Heads of Department Accountability System

29. Since assuming office, I have been constantly taking forward reforms to build a "result-oriented" government. In the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, Hong Kong ranked second globally in "Government efficiency", reflecting well on Hong Kong's civil servants being an outstanding team, and the reforms introduced by the current-term Government, alongside the concerted efforts of the civil service.

30. Nevertheless, given the large number of executive departments and officers in the Government, problems inevitably occur in individual departments. The causes behind them must be identified in good time and rectified to prevent them from undermining the overall trust that society places in the Government, and to avoid causing injustice to the overwhelming majority of our civil servants, who are dedicated to their duties.

31. I believe that effective management is of utmost importance. Senior civil servants are all responsible for management. I have therefore been considering ways to strengthen their sense of responsibility to enhance the overall management standard of the departments. After considerations, I believe that the most direct and effective way is to strengthen the accountability of the HoDs by clearly emphasising that HoDs are tasked to build a strong management team, and lead their senior civil servants to jointly manage staff and operation systems. While HoDs have always been responsible for the work of their departments, the Government has not yet institutionalised overall accountability. Establishing a Heads of Department Accountability System (the HoD Accountability System), therefore, is of critical significance. The details are as follows.