Hong Kong’s top-ranking civil servants will be held accountable if they fail to provide adequate support in policy formulation, the city’s leader has said, despite a new investigation mechanism that primarily targets department heads.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the proposed “Heads of Department Accountability System” was intended to promote self-improvement within departments rather than “picking on” individuals.
Under the new mechanism, the chief executive, department secretaries or bureau directors may initiate investigations by the Public Service Commission – an independent statutory body that advises on civil service appointments and promotions – into “widespread, repetitive and systemic” management problems, or cases where department heads are personally implicated.
About 60 department heads will fall under the new investigation framework, while all police personnel and most bureau permanent secretaries – the highest-ranking civil servants – are excluded.
“Permanent secretaries usually assist ministers in formulating policies, so ultimate responsibility lies with the ministers,” Lee said before a weekly meeting of the city’s top decision-making body, the Executive Council.
“If they fail to provide adequate support in policy formulation, ministers will hold them accountable immediately.”
Lee emphasised that all officials must be held accountable for their actions, adding that the new mechanism would cover all civil servants.
“Everyone falls within the scope of the investigation, but there must be a starting point, which is the department head,” he said.
The city’s leader said the system was intended to encourage civil servants to maximise their potential and pursue self-improvement, rather than single out individuals for criticism.
“I oppose any move to pick on [individuals]; it is unfair,” Lee said. “We target genuine problems or mistakes and address them through a proper system.”
The mechanism was first proposed in the 2025 policy address to enhance governance, improve work processes and boost management efficiency among top officials.
Under a two-tier system, department heads will be tasked with investigating issues involving rank-and-file officers deemed “less serious and isolated”.
The proposed legislation will be submitted to the Legislative Council for negative vetting in June and will come into effect by mid-October if the scrutiny period is extended.
Last August’s multimillion-dollar bottled water procurement saga led to Government Logistics Department director Carlson Chan Ka-shun being investigated by an internal team led by bureau chiefs, with his Silver Bauhinia Star nomination later rescinded.
Scandals of similar severity could trigger an investigation by the Public Service Commission once the new mechanism is in place.
Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan earlier said permanent secretaries would still be held accountable if found to be involved in management problems, adding that authorities would take public opinion into account when deciding whether to invoke the mechanism.