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The Executive Council today (May 4) endorsed the reorganisation proposals for the Government Secretariat put forth by the Office of the Chief Executive-elect (CE-elect).
The reorganisation proposals include the creation of two Deputy Secretary of Department posts; the setting-up of a new Culture Bureau; the restructuring of the existing Commerce and Economic Development Bureau into two bureaux, namely the Commerce and Industries Bureau, and the Technology and Communications Bureau; as well as the restructuring of the existing Development Bureau and the Transport and Housing Bureau into a Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, and a Transport and Works Bureau.
"We submitted the reorganisation proposals to the Legislative Council (LegCo) this evening to provide Members with sufficient time to study the proposals before the Constitutional Affairs Panel meeting next Wednesday," a government spokesman said.
"To implement the new government structure with effect from July 1 this year, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will shortly give notice to move a resolution in June to effect the transfer of statutory functions vested in one public office to another public office."
"We expect a subcommittee will be formed to scrutinise the draft resolution," the spokesman added.
"We will also submit proposals in June to the Establishment Subcommittee and the Finance Committee for approval of the staffing and financial implications arising from the reorganisation exercise," he said.
To enable implementation of the new organisational structure of the Government Secretariat envisaged by the CE-elect from July 1, the Chief Executive has agreed to provide full support to the exercise in the interest of ensuring a smooth transition to the fourth-term Government.
"We hope that LegCo Members will support the reorganisation proposals to enable the fourth-term Government to more effectively implement the CE-elect's election platform in delivering services to the public when it starts work on July 1," the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, May 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:15
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