Index page - Civil Service Bureau
Index page
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Civil Service
Session No. : 1
File name : CSB-e2.doc
|Reply |Question |Reply |Question |
|Serial No. |Serial No. |Serial No. |Serial No. |
|CSB001 |0855 |CSB023 |1690 |
|CSB002 |0856 |CSB024 |1691 |
|CSB003 |0857 |CSB025 |0747 |
|CSB004 |0858 |CSB026 |1164 |
|CSB005 |0859 |CSB027 |2487 |
|CSB006 |0862 |CSB028 |1271 |
|CSB007 |0860 |CSB029 |1272 |
|CSB008 |0861 |CSB030 |1273 |
|CSB009 |2032 |CSB031 |2202 |
|CSB010 |2033 |CSB032 |2203 |
|CSB011 |2034 |CSB033 |2204 |
|CSB012 |2035 |CSB034 |1083 |
|CSB013 |2036 |CSB035 |0811 |
|CSB014 |2037 |CSB036 |2653 |
|CSB015 |2038 |CSB037 |1081 |
|CSB016 |2039 |CSB038 |0819 |
|CSB017 |2040 |CSB039 |2174 |
|CSB018 |2041 |CSB040 |2407 |
|CSB019 |2205 |CSB041 |0959 |
|CSB020 |2206 |CSB042 |2274 |
|CSB021 |1269 |CSB043 |2603 |
|CSB022 |1270 |CSB044 |2398 |
Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Civil Service
Session No. : 1
|Reply |Question |Name of Member |Head |Programme |
|Serial No. |Serial No. | | | |
|CSB001 |0855 |FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB002 |0856 |FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB003 |0857 |FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB004 |0858 |FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB005 |0859 |FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB006 |0862 |KWONG Chi-kin |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB007 |0860 |TAM Heung-man |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB008 |0861 |TAM Heung-man |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB009 |2032 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB010 |2033 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB011 |2034 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Human Resource Management |
|CSB012 |2035 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Translation and Interpretation Services and Use of|
| | | | |Official Languages |
|CSB013 |2036 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Translation and Interpretation Services and Use of|
| | | | |Official Languages |
|CSB014 |2037 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB015 |2038 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB016 |2039 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB017 |2040 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB018 |2041 |TAM Yiu-chung |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB019 |2205 |YOUNG Howard |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB020 |2206 |YOUNG Howard |143 |Civil Service Training and Development |
|CSB021 |1269 |CHEUNG Man-kwong |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB022 |1270 |CHEUNG Man-kwong |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB023 |1690 |KWONG Chi-kin |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB024 |1691 |KWONG Chi-kin |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB025 |0747 |LI Fung-ying |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB026 |1164 |NG Margaret |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB027 |2487 |SIN Chung-kai |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB028 |1271 |TAM Yiu-chung |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB029 |1272 |TAM Yiu-chung |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB030 |1273 |TAM Yiu-chung |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB031 |2202 |YOUNG Howard |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB032 |2203 |YOUNG Howard |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB033 |2204 |YOUNG Howard |46 |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|CSB034 |1083 |CHAN Bernard |120 |Public and Judicial Service Pension Benefits |
|CSB035 |0811 |KWONG Chi-kin |120 |Public and Judicial Service Pension Benefits |
|CSB036 |2653 |TAM Yiu-chung |120 |Public and Judicial Service Pension Benefits |
|CSB037 |1081 |CHAN Bernard |136 |Public Service Commission |
|CSB038 |0819 |KWONG Chi-kin |136 |Public Service Commission |
|CSB039 |2174 |NG Margaret |136 |Public Service Commission |
|CSB040 |2407 |NG Margaret |136 |Public Service Commission |
|CSB041 |0959 |KWONG Chi-kin |174 |Secretariat services for advisory bodies on civil |
| | | | |service and judicial salaries and conditions of |
| | | | |service |
|CSB042 |2274 |SIN Chung-kai |37 |Medical and Dental Treatment for Civil Servants |
|CSB043 |2603 |YEUNG Sum |37 |Medical and Dental Treatment for Civil Servants |
|CSB044 |2398 |CHEUNG Man-kwong |188 |Payment of Salaries, Pensions and Benefits |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB001 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0855 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Under the Matters Requiring Special Attention in 2007-08, it is stated: “Continue to consider the application of the results of the pay level |
|survey…”. Will the administration inform this Committee if the study covers the effect of the civil service pay adjustment on the terms of |
|non-civil service contracts? For example, will the pay of the serving and new non-civil service contract staff be adjusted with reference to the |
|civil service pay and if not, will the existing situation of unequal pay for equal work aggravate? |
|Asked by: Hon. FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |
|Reply: |
| |
|We are now discussing and considering with the staff side representatives on how the recently completed pay level survey results should be applied|
|to each of the existing civil service pay scales having regard to the relevant policy considerations. |
| |
|As regards the pay of non-civil service contract (NCSC) staff, Heads of Department have discretion to determine the level of pay to be offered to |
|NCSC staff, having regard to the condition of the employment market as well as their unique management and operational considerations. However, |
|the level of pay should not exceed the mid-point salaries of comparable civil service ranks or ranks of comparable level of responsibilities. The|
|results of the pay level survey would not have any direct impact on the pay of NCSC staff. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB002 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0856 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|With regard to the resumption of open recruitment of civil servants from 1 April 2007 as mentioned in the budget, will the administration inform |
|this Committee of the estimated number of civil servants to be recruited in the financial year of 2007-08 and the posts of the bureaux and |
|departments involved? |
|Asked by: Hon. FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |
|Reply: |
| |
|Starting from 1 April 2007, Heads of Department / Grade can resume open recruitment of civil servants having regard to their operational needs. |
|However, grades included in the Second Voluntary Retirement Scheme will continue to be subject to an open recruitment freeze, unless otherwise |
|approved. In 2007-08, there will be a net increase in the civil service establishment of about 1 130 posts. As for existing vacancies, as |
|bureaux / departments will only fill them when there are operational needs and alternative modes of service delivery (e.g. outsourcing) are |
|considered unfeasible, we are unable to provide an accurate estimation of the number of civil servants that they will recruit and the posts |
|involved. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB003 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0857 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|It is mentioned under Matters Requiring Special Attention in 2007-08 that : “continue to maintain and enhance the morale of the civil service…” |
|and “co-ordinate the implementation of the final phase of the five-day week initiative in the Government, which is scheduled for commencement on 1|
|July 2007…”. Would the Administration advise this Committee, apart from the five-day week initiative, what other initiatives in support of the |
|promoting family-friendly policy stated in the Policy Address will be implemented in the civil service? Will such initiatives include prescribing|
|standard working hours, reducing occasions when staff are required to work overtime, allowing flexible working hours or working from home, |
|offering job sharing opportunities, granting paid paternity leave to male staff, providing child-care services and facilities in the workplace, |
|etc.? If yes, please provide the implementation schedule and the expenditure involved. If not, what are the reasons? |
| |
|Asked by: Hon. FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |
|Reply: |
| |
|The Government aims to provide a family-friendly working environment to enable civil servants to cope with both work and family commitments. |
|Under the basic principles of no additional staffing resources, no reduction in the conditioned hours of service of individual staff, no reduction|
|in emergency services and the continued provision of some essential counter services on Saturday, the Government introduced the five-day week |
|initiative by phases from July 2006 to reduce the work pressure of staff and to improve the quality of family life, without impairing operational |
|efficiency. The final phase of the five-day week initiative is scheduled to commence on 1 July 2007. Heads of Department may arrange their staff|
|to work in staggered working hours as they consider necessary to meet operational needs. |
| Civil servants are subject to the conditioned hours stipulated for their respective grades. Conditioned hours mean the hours of duty which |
|salary is calculated to cover and the hours which must be worked before the concerned staff can claim overtime work. The actual hours of |
|attendance of individual civil servants are determined by their Heads of Department having regard to operational requirements. The Civil Service|
|Regulations stipulate that overtime work may be undertaken only when it is unavoidable. It is incumbent upon Heads of Department to ensure that |
|overtime work is kept to the absolute minimum having regard to operational requirements, and that such unavoidable overtime work is strictly |
|controlled and properly supervised at all times. |
| Besides, the vast majority of civil servants are provided with full-pay annual leave, ranging from 22 to 40.5 days (apart from maternity leave),|
|for the purpose of recuperation from the pressure of work and attending to personal matters including taking care of their families. |
| |
|Apart from the above measures, the Government will continue to take an interest in the health and well being of staff, assist them in managing |
|work-related stress and better understanding the importance of work-life balance. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB004 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0858 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Regarding the statement: “continue to consider the application of the results of the pay level survey…” under Matters Requiring Special Attention|
|in 2007-08. Would the Administration advise this Committee whether any provision has been made for civil service pay adjustment in the 2007-08 |
|Estimates? If yes, what is the estimated amount? If not, what are the reasons? |
|Asked by: Hon. FUNG Kin-kee Frederick |
|Reply: |
| |
|Whether there will be any adjustment to civil service pay, and if so, the magnitude of such adjustment, in 2007–08 depends on how the results of |
|the recently completed pay level survey are to be applied to the civil service and the results of the pay trend survey. We are still discussing |
|with the staff sides on the application of the results of the pay level survey, and the 2007 pay trend survey has yet to be conducted. Should a |
|decision be made on a civil service pay adjustment in the coming months, the 2007–08 Budget could meet this need. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB005 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0859 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Regarding the special review of employment situation of non-civil service contract (NCSC) staff conducted by the Administration in 2006-07, |
|please inform this Committee whether policy bureaux currently employing a large number of middle-ranking NCSC staff were included in the review. |
|If yes, how many posts were involved, and among these posts, which posts should be regularized? In view of the decision to resume open |
|recruitment of civil servants as announced in the Budget, will a fresh recruitment exercise be conducted for these posts? |
|Asked by: Hon. FUNG Kin-kee, Frederick |
|Reply: |
| |
|The coverage of the special review included all policy bureaux. Out of the total of some 1 500 NCSC positions employed by policy bureaux, the |
|review established that the duties of 189 NCSC staff should more appropriately be performed by civil servants. A list of these NCSC positions is|
|at Annex. Their positions would be replaced by filling existing and anticipated vacant civil service posts and, as necessary, creating new |
|posts. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| | |Annex |
|List of Non-Civil Service Contract (NCSC) positions in policy bureaux |
|involving work that should more appropriately be performed by civil servants |
| | | |
|Bureau / Department / Office |NCSC Job Title |No. |
|Civil Service Bureau |Executive Assistant |2 |
| |Sub-total |2 |
|Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau |Information Technology Manager |1 |
| |Sub-total |1 |
|Economic Development and Labour Bureau |Assistant Manager (Tourism) |4 |
| |Research Manager |1 |
| |Sub-total |5 |
|Education and Manpower Bureau (Note) |Executive Assistant |21 |
| |Education Audiologist/Speech Therapist/ |15 |
| |Psychologist | |
| |Curriculum/Teaching Resources Developer |4 |
| |General Clerk |12 |
| |Information Assistant |2 |
| |Project Manager/Administrator/ |75 |
| |Co-ordinator/Officer | |
| |School Development Officer |34 |
| |Statistical Assistant |10 |
| |Sub-total |173 |
|Environment, Transport and Works Bureau |Executive Assistant |2 |
| |Personal Secretary |1 |
| |Sub-total |3 |
|Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau |Information Technology Officer |2 |
| |Sub-total |2 |
|Home Affairs Bureau |Chief Project Manager (Culture) |1 |
| |Sub-total |1 |
|Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau |Assistant Information Technology Officer |1 |
| |Executive Assistant |1 |
| |Sub-total |2 |
| |Total |189 |
|Note : Prior to 1 January 2003, Education and Manpower Bureau and the Education Department were responsible for the formulation and implementation |
|of education policies respectively. With effect from 1 January 2003, the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Education Department were merged |
|into a new Education and Manpower Bureau to strengthen the link between the formulation and implementation of education policies. The new |
|Education and Manpower Bureau undertakes the roles of a policy bureau and an executive department. |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB006 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0862 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|It is mentioned in Matters Requiring Special Attention in 2007 – 08 that the Administration will run a staff exchange programme with major |
|Mainland cities and civil servants of both places will be sent to each other’s government departments for attachment and training. Will the |
|Administration inform this Committee of the following: |
| |
|What are the details of the exchange programme? Which departments will be included in the programme? What is the quota of participants? What |
|are the percentages for frontline civil servants and senior civil servants? |
| |
|Will staff be selected by their supervisors for participation? Will they join the programme on a voluntary basis? Will participation in the |
|programme affect promotion prospects? What is the amount of funding required for the programme? |
|Asked by: Hon. KWONG Chi-kin |
|Reply: |
| |
|We started the civil service exchange programme with the Mainland in 2002. Under the programme, civil servants are attached to the governments of|
|the other side with a view to widening exposure, sharing experience, and fostering partnership and communication between both parties. We have |
|entered into exchange agreements with Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou as well as Guangdong (which includes the provincial government and the Guangzhou|
|and Shenzhen municipal governments). Under the agreement, each year we can exchange three to five civil servants with each of these |
|municipal/provincial governments for about four to eight weeks, which makes a total of about 20 participants. |
|All bureaux and departments can participate in the programme. Departments will nominate suitable staff members to the programme, taking into |
|account the scope of exchange as well as the operational and training needs of individual staff and the departments as a whole. Participants are |
|usually officers at the professional level, i.e. those on Master Pay Scale (MPS) 45 or above (or equivalent). This is because in addition to |
|learning about the systems, practices and development of their fields in the Mainland, the participants also act as representatives of the HKSARG |
|and their departments and have to brief the host departments on the work of their parent departments, the HKSAR government structure, and the |
|latest development in Hong Kong. |
|As mentioned above, departments will nominate suitable staff members to the programme, taking into account the scope of exchange and the |
|operational and training needs of the staff and the departments as a whole. The staff exchange programme is one of the many development |
|opportunities offered by the Civil Service Training and Development Institute for our civil servants. There is no direct relationship between |
|promotion and the participation or non-participation in the staff exchange programme. |
|Under the exchange agreements, the participating officers’ salaries, employee benefits and travel expenses are to be paid by the home |
|organizations. Our estimated direct expenditure for this programme is about $410,000 in 2007-08, mainly on participants’ travelling expenses and|
|study grant which covers rental and living expenses. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB007 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0860 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|For this programme, the increase in provision for 2007-08 is mainly due to enhancement of occupational safety and health in the civil service, |
|and employment of staff for information technology projects. Would the Administration provide details on these two aspects of work and the |
|estimated expenditure? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Heung-man |
|Reply: |
| |
|In the Estimates for 2007-08, we have budgetted around $3 million for the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) in the Government, |
|and $1 million for the engagement of the service of contract personnel for the implementation of information technology (IT) enhancement |
|initiatives in the Civil Service Bureau (CSB). |
| |
|As a good employer, the Government attaches great importance to OSH. Promotion of OSH in the Government is an on-going commitment of CSB. In |
|addition to the organization of central publicity and educational programmes for the management and staff of bureaux/departments (B/Ds), CSB has |
|been encouraging B/Ds to further enhance their safety management systems (SMS) and strengthen their promotional efforts. Where appropriate, |
|funding support would also be provided. Around $3 million is reserved for the purpose, mainly to support B/Ds in developing, enhancing or |
|auditing their SMSs; organising training programmes and promotional activities; producing safety operation manuals; and pursuing continuous |
|improvement of OSH practices. |
| |
|We plan to undertake a number of IT projects to upgrade information security capability and improve operational efficiency in 2007-08. These |
|projects include upgrading of personal computers and desktop accessories, replacement of network equipment, installation of security tools, |
|conducting a security risk assessment and audit exercise for online applications, etc. To take forward these initiatives, we plan to engage the |
|service of contract personnel to assist in the preparation, initiation and subsequent management of the projects. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB008 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0861 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Would the Administration deploy resources in 2007-08 to conduct an overall review on whether the establishment in various departments meets their|
|operational need? If yes, what are the work plan and estimated expenditure? If no, what is the reason for that? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Heung-man |
|Reply: |
| |
|Directors of Bureau and Heads of Department review the establishment of their bureaux / departments (B/Ds) from time to time to ensure that there|
|is sufficient manpower to meet their operational needs. The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) will continue to work closely with B/Ds to strictly |
|control the civil service establishment. We will ensure that vacancies will be filled, or new posts created only when there are well-justified |
|reasons and alternative means of service delivery (e.g. outsourcing) are considered to be unfeasible. As it is an on-going commitment of CSB to |
|control the B/Ds’ establishment, we do not have any plan to conduct an overall review separately. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB009 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2032 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|What is the staffing level of the unit responsible for maintaining the disciplinary system under Programme (2)? What is its organisational |
|structure? What are the respective numbers of cases of misconduct in the civil service handled in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|The Secretariat on Civil Service Discipline (“SCSD”) comprising 11 Executive Officer Grade members (1 Senior Principal Executive Officer, 2 Chief |
|Executive Officers, 4 Senior Executive Officers and 4 Executive Officers I) and 6 Secretarial/Clerical Grade members centrally processes formal |
|disciplinary actions under the Public Service (Administration) Order (“PS(A)O”) and advises bureaux and departments on disciplinary matters |
|including procedures. Apart from this, there is a Conduct and Discipline Division comprising 1 Staff Grade C Administrative Officer, 1 Senior |
|Administrative Officer, 1 Chief Executive Officer, 5 Senior Executive Officers and 4 Secretarial/Clerical Grade members in the Civil Service Bureau|
|(“CSB”) responsible for the formulation and review of civil service discipline and conduct policy, and handling appeals of disciplinary cases and |
|under-performance cases. |
|The organizational structures of the SCSD and the Conduct and Discipline Division in CSB are shown below. |
| |
|In the past three years (i.e. 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 (up to 31 January 2007)), 247, 174 and 150 misconduct cases were respectively handled |
|under the PS(A)O with punishment imposed. |
|Secretariat on Civil Service Discipline |
|SPEO(DS) |
| |
| |
|CEO(DS) CEO(DS) |
| |
| |
|SEO(DS) SEO(DS) SEO(DS) SEO(DS) |
|EO(DS) EO(DS) EO(DS) EO(DS) |
| |
| |
|6 secretarial and clerical grades staff |
|Conduct and Discipline Division |
|PAS(CD) |
| |
| |
|AS(CD) CEO(CD) |
| |
| |
|SEO(CD) SEO(CD) SEO(CD) SEO(CD) SEO(CD) |
| |
| |
|4 secretarial and clerical grades staff |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB010 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2033 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resource Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Which departments are expected to be included in the final phase of the five-day week initiative? What is the number of civil servants involved?|
| |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|The final phase of the five-day week initiative is scheduled to commence on 1 July 2007. Relevant departments are finalising their plans on |
|which services would be included in the final phase, having regard to service demand, staff and public reaction, etc. Details on the services |
|and number of civil servants migrating to the five-day week mode of operation in the final phase are being finalized. We aim to brief the |
|Legislative Council Panel on Public Service on the final phase implementation plan in May 2007. |
| |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB011 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2034 |
|Head: 143 – Government Secretariat: |Subhead (No. & title): |000 Operational Expenses |
|Civil Service Bureau | | |
|Programme: |(2) Human Resources Management |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|How can the Administration "continue to maintain and enhance the morale of the civil service" effectively in 2007-08? What are the |
|concrete plans? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
|The Government believes that a robust commendation system enhances staff morale and helps induce proactive as well as sustained |
|exemplary performance from civil servants. We will give recognition to civil servants for their exemplary performance through the |
|following award schemes in 2007-08. |
| |
|The Secretary for the Civil Service (SCS)’s Commendation Award Scheme |
| |
|Through the SCS's Commendation Award Scheme, the SCS, on behalf of the Administration, gives recognition to selected civil servants for |
|their consistently outstanding performance. An award recipient should be an exceptionally meritorious officer who has a track record of|
|outstanding performance for at least 5 consecutive years in his/her past staff appraisal reports. Recipients will be awarded a |
|certificate and a gold pin. They would also be granted a travel award, if they satisfy the basic eligibility criteria under the Long |
|and Meritorious Service Travel Award Scheme and have never received any Government travel award before. About 80 commendations are |
|awarded annually. |
|Commendation Letter Scheme |
| |
|A Head of Bureau/Department may issue a commendation letter to an officer who has : |
| |
|provided consistently outstanding service for at least 3 years; |
|made a substantial contribution towards enhancing the efficiency or the image of their departments; or |
|performed an exceptionally meritorious act warranting special recognition. |
| |
|Commendation letters are issued by the Head of Bureau/Department on the recommendation of a bureau/departmental Commendation Committee. |
|In recent years, around 1 250 commendation letters were issued annually. |
| |
|The Long and Meritorious Service Travel Award Scheme |
| |
|The objective of the Long and Meritorious Service Travel Award Scheme is to recognise and reward long and meritorious service of serving |
|staff. All local non-directorate officers with a continuous service of 20 years or more, who have track records of consistently very |
|good performance, are eligible for consideration for the grant of an award. An officer who has already received any Government travel |
|award is no longer eligible. The number of award is determined on the basis of one award for every 30 eligible officers. If the officer|
|is married and will be travelling with his/her spouse, the same amount of travel allowance will be provided to the spouse. About 1 900 |
|awards are granted annually. |
| |
|Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme |
| |
|The objectives of the Scheme are to encourage the pursuit of excellence in service delivery and give recognition to departments and teams|
|of civil servants for their outstanding achievements in providing quality services to the public. The awards of the 2007 Scheme include:|
| |
| |
|interdepartmental award: Partnership Award |
|departmental awards: Service Enhancement Award and Best Public Image Award; and |
|team awards: Specialized Service Award, Innovation Award, Application of Technology Award, General Public Service Award and Internal |
|Service Award. |
| |
|The adjudication process will be completed in June 2007. The prize presentation ceremony will be held in September 2007. |
|Signature | |
| |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Name in block letters | |
| |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Post Title | |
| |14 March 2007 |
|Date | |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB012 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2035 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(3) Translation and Interpretation Services and Use of Official Languages |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|What are the specific plans for helping departments maintain the momentum in using Chinese, including Putonghua, in 2007-08 as stated in Programme |
|(3)? What is the expenditure to be incurred? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|In 2007-08, we plan to continue with the provision of a series of support services to help departments maintain the momentum in using Chinese in |
|official business. They include the production of a thematic publication on language and culture, reference materials on official writing and |
|language use, and glossaries of terms commonly used in the Government; provision of a telephone enquiry service on the use of Chinese (including |
|Putonghua); and organising talks, seminars and other promotional activities. These activities will be undertaken by CSB with existing in-house |
|resources. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB013 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2036 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(3) Translation and Interpretation Services and Use of Official Languages |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|What are the number of staff on establishment and the amount of provision involved in providing vetting service in respect of drafts prepared by |
|civil servants in 2007-08? Are there any specific plans in place to enhance the drafting skills of civil servants with a view to reducing the |
|expenditure on vetting service? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|To provide vetting service in respect of drafts prepared by civil servants is one of the duties of Official Languages Officers (OLOs) at all |
|ranks. OLOs, belonging to a general grade, are posted to various departments and their workload in providing vetting service varies according to|
|the needs of individual departments. Since vetting documents prepared by civil servants is but one of the duties of OLOs, and no department has |
|posts created solely for providing vetting service, it is difficult to work out the provision involved. |
| |
|We are committed to enhancing the language standard of civil servants, in particular their writing skills. In 2006, we organised various |
|thematic writing courses for civil servants, including customised written communication courses for individual departments. We also provided a |
|series of support services to assist civil servants in their drafting work. In 2007-08, we will continue to provide civil servants with a wide |
|range of language support services. This includes organising courses and talks on official writing, producing writing aids and reference |
|materials, compiling glossaries of terms commonly used in the Government and providing telephone enquiry services on language usage. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB014 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2037 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|What is the expenditure on e-learning programmes for 2007-08 and how far does it make up the total expenditure for training programmes ? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|The estimated direct expenditure on e-learning programmes in 2007-08 is about $4 million, around 8% of the direct training expenses to be |
|incurred by the Civil Service Bureau. The expenditure will cover the maintenance of the portal, the acquisition and development of additional |
|e-learning/reference materials for further enriching its range and content, and programmes to promote wider use of web courses as a learning mode|
|amongst civil servants. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB015 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2038 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|With a significant increase of around 25% in the number of registered participants of e-learning programmes in 2006 as compared with 2005, why is |
|the estimate for 2007 increased by only one percent? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|The number of registered users of our e-learning portal has reached an impressive 42 569 in 2006, as compared to only 13 695 in 2002. The level |
|of increase, however, is expected to stabilize after years of significant growth. Nonetheless, we will continue to strengthen our work in this |
|area. We will continue to organize promotional activities, enhance the system’s user-friendliness, and enrich the range and content of our |
|e-learning resources. |
| |
| | |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB016 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2039 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|How many civil servants joined the National Studies Programmes for Senior Officers respectively in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07? Why is there |
|only an increase of 50 training places for National Studies Programmes designed for officers at different levels in 2007? What is the total |
|estimated provision? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|The National Studies Programme for senior civil servants comprises Mainland courses at Peking University, Tsinghua University, Foreign Affairs |
|University and National School of Administration, thematic study tours and staff exchange programme. The numbers of participants in the past |
|three years are as follows: |
| |
|2004 – 05: 296 |
|2005 – 06: 301 |
|2006 – 07: 308 |
| |
|In 2007, we will continue to organize the above programmes, as well as offer a wide range of seminars on various topical issues to civil servants|
|at different levels, and a new Mainland course at Sun Yat-sen University for middle managers, with particular focus on the latest developments in|
|the Pearl River Delta Region. At the same time, we shall upload basic materials which are previously covered by seminars as well as updated |
|information related to topical issues onto the National Studies Portal. A large number of civil servants have been learning from the Portal, |
|which has recorded a hit rate of over 150 000 since its revamp in 2005. In addition to these conventional modes of training, we understand, |
|through our close contacts with departments, that many of them have updated their knowledge and understanding of their counterparts in the |
|Mainland through frequent mutual visits, meetings, conferences, briefings, departmental training and specially arranged staff exchange and |
|secondment programmes. These learning activities, which are arranged by departments, have all helped to enhance understanding of the operation |
|and areas of concern of their Mainland counterparts. |
|In the year 2007 – 08, the estimated expenditure on national studies programmes for all ranks is $7.8 million, which is of a level similar to |
|that of 2006 – 07. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB017 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2040 |
|Head: 143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|According to the 2006-07 Estimates, the number of training places for staff affected by the Voluntary Retirement would be 5 000 only. |
|But now the number of training places has gone up to 6 340 in the Revised Estimates for 2006-07. What are the reasons? What is the |
|estimated expenditure on such training for 2007-08? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
|We have been providing training support for staff remaining in departments affected by the Voluntary Retirement Schemes in the past few |
|years under the Three Year Training and Development Programme. The Programme aims to help staff acquire the necessary skills for the new |
|working environment and to strengthen their resilience in managing change. |
| |
|The increase in training places for 2006-07 is due to an increase in demand for change management courses. The expenditure for the |
|programme in 2007-08 is estimated at about $5 million. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB018 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2041 |
|Head: 143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|What is the estimated expenditure on training sponsorship schemes for 2007-08? How many applications are expected? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
|To promote continuous learning in the civil service, the two training sponsorship schemes, namely the “External Training Sponsorship |
|Scheme for Front-line Staff”, and the “External Management Training Sponsorship Scheme” will continue in 2007-08. A total of |
|$6.5 million has been reserved for the two schemes. About 1 000 civil servants are expected to apply. |
| |
| | |
|Signature | |
| |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Name in block letters | |
| |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Post Title | |
| |14 March 2007 |
|Date | |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB019 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2205 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|In 2007-08, the Bureau will continue to work closely with bureaux/departments and actively monitor the changes in the training and development |
|needs of civil servants. Please specify the concrete plan and how much resources will be allocated ? |
|Asked by: Hon. YOUNG Howard |
|Reply: |
| |
|In 2007-08, we have budgeted about $50 million to fund training activities. To meet the training and development needs of civil servants, we will|
|work closely with bureaux/departments to conduct training needs analysis, provide training advisory and consultancy services, organize customized |
|and regular courses, and offer sponsorship and funding support where appropriate. The focus areas are managing change, developing leaders, |
|enhancing service, managing and enhancing performance, and promoting and adopting e-learning. Some of the training programmes planned for 2007, |
|amongst many others, include : |
| |
|Contract management courses for middle managers and frontline supervisors who need to design, monitor, and administer out-sourced government |
|contracts; |
|Command course for middle managers from both disciplined services and non-disciplined departments who need to carry out law enforcement duties; |
|Training programmes in relation to the Review of District Councils; |
|Training on enhancing services and serving customers with special needs; |
|Training on work-life balance; and |
|Training for new recruits covering the Basic Law, integrity/good practices of civil servants, etc. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB020 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2206 |
|Head: |143 - Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(4) Civil Service Training and Development |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|In 2007-08, the Bureau will strengthen the advisory and consultancy services provided to bureaux/departments to better equip their workforce to |
|meet the changing needs of the civil service. Please specify the concrete plan and how much resources will be allocated ? |
|Asked by: Hon. YOUNG Howard |
|Reply: |
|We will expand our advisory and support services in human resource management and development. We will focus our services in five major areas, |
|namely developing leaders, managing and enhancing performance, managing change, enhancing service, and promoting and adopting e-learning. We |
|will conduct surveys, organize seminars, focus groups, experience sharing sessions, as well as disseminate information on best practices through |
|classes and e-publications. We will dedicate more staff resources to these service areas. At the same time, we will also increase our support |
|to departmental training managers to facilitate their training work in departments through more training managers meeting, classes and |
|experience-sharing. We have also set aside about $5 million for the above advisory and related support services. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB021 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1269 |
|Head: 46 General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |013 Personal allowances |
| | |014 Home purchase allowance |
| | |022 Passages |
| | |033 Home financing allowance |
| | |038 Private tenancy allowance |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question : |
| |
|Please list out and compare the breakdowns of expenditure, the number of allowance recipients and the relevant allowance rates under the |
|above five Subheads in 2005-06 and 2006-07; please also give the reasons for the change in expenditure of these Subheads in 2005-06 and |
|2006-07. |
|Asked by : Hon. CHEUNG Man-kwong |
|Reply : |
| |
|The 2005-06 actual expenditure and the 2006-07 revised estimate for individual allowances under the five Subheads, together with the |
|corresponding estimated number of recipients and allowances rates, are set out in the Annex. The reasons for the change in expenditure |
|are also set out in the Annex. |
| | |
|Signature | |
| | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
| |Director of Accounting Services |
|Post Title | |
| |15 March 2007 |
|Date | |
Annex
Civil Service Allowances under Head 46 : General Expenses of the Civil Service
| | |2005-06 |2006-07 | | |
| |Allowance |Actual Expenditure|Actual no. of |Revised Estimate |Estimated no. of |Allowance Rates |Reason for change in expenditure |
| | |($000) |Recipients |($000) |Recipients | | |
|I. |Personal Allowances (Subhead |902,163 | |932,917 | | | |
| |013) | | |(+3.4%) | | | |
| |a. Local Education Allowance |309,546 | *21 337 |336,592 |*22 117 |Maximum rate per student per academic year - |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or |
| |(LEA) | | |(+8.7%) | | |after 1.6.2000 and the allowance rates have been frozen with no further|
| | | | | | | |rate adjustment since the 2006/07 school year. The increase in the |
| | | | | | | |2006-07 revised estimate is mainly due to a projected increase in the |
| | | | | | | |number of children of eligible officers receiving LEA and the increase |
| | | | | | | |in the number of cases claiming higher LEA rates. |
| | | | | | | |Existing Claimants4 |
| | | | | | | |($) |
| | | | | | |Boarding School Allowance |Existing Claimants6 |
| | | | | | | |£ |
| |d. Air-conditioning Allowance |166 |**49 |163 |**46 |Up to $3,135 for each of two air-conditioners |Provision of Air-conditioning Allowance for civil servants and |
| | | | |(-1.8%) | |that may be claimed every five years. |Independent Commission Against Corruption officers has been ceased with|
| | | | | | | |effect from 1.10.2006. |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |The 2006-07 revised estimate remains broadly the same as the actual |
| | | | | | | |expenditure of 2005-06. |
|II. |Home Purchase Allowance |856,381 |14 667 |820,099 |14 740 |$1,690 - $17,400 per month |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or |
| |(Subhead 014) | | |(-4.2%) | | |after 1.6.2000. The decrease in expenditure is due to the decrease in |
| | | | | | | |the average rate of allowance in 2006-07, partly offset by the increase|
| | | | | | | |in the number of participants because the number of new joinees exceeds|
| | | | | | | |the number of participants leaving the scheme. |
|III. |Passages |198,238 | |219,166 | | | |
| |(Subhead 022) | | |(+10.6%) | | | |
| |a. Leave Passage Allowance |54,780 |1 707 |63,815 |1 691 |Leave Passage Allowance: $12,045 to $45,730 per|The provision of Leave Passage Allowance (LPA), as a fringe benefit, |
| |(including expenditure on sea | | |(+16.5%) | |officer per year. |has been reviewed and tightened up from 1.6.2000. For officers offered|
| |passage) # | | | | | |appointment on or after that date, the allowance is non-accountable and|
| | | | | | |Sea Passage: Officers are eligible for First |payable to the officers only and not their family members. |
| | | | | | |Class (Lower) or First Class (Higher) | |
| | | | | | |accommodation depending on their category/rank.|The provision of Sea Passage has been ceased for officers offered |
| | | | | | |Allowance rates depend on the fares set by the |appointment on or after 1 December 1984. |
| | | | | | |cruise operators which are capped at the | |
| | | | | | |maximum rates for the respective class of |The increase in the 2006-07 revised estimate mainly arises from the |
| | | | | | |travel approved for the 1997 sailing. |upward adjustment in LPA rates from 1.4.2006 according to the approved |
| | | | | | | |mechanism. |
| |b. School Passage Allowance |134,592 |*6 806 |149,717 |*6 867 |$11,800 to $23,600 per student per academic |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or |
| | | | |(+11.2%) | |year. |after 1.8.1996. The rates have been reduced and will remain frozen |
| | | | | | | |with effect from 1.9.2006. |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |Expenditure on the allowance is affected by a number of factors |
| | | | | | | |including the number of children of eligible officers studying overseas|
| | | | | | | |and the amount of allowance actually claimed within the financial year.|
| | | | | | | |The increase in the 2006-07 revised estimate is mainly due to a |
| | | | | | | |projected increase in the number of officers claiming the allowance for|
| | | | | | | |their dependent children undertaking overseas education and that the |
| | | | | | | |amount claimed would be up to the stipulated ceiling rates within the |
| | | | | | | |year. |
| |c. Baggage Allowance # |2,906 |**981 |3,473 |**898 |The amount of allowance is determined by the |The provision of the allowance as a fringe benefit has been ceased for |
| | | | |(+19.5%) | |cost of transportation of baggage up to the |officers offered appointment on or after 1.1.1999, except for those |
| | | | | | |officer’s maximum volume/weight entitlement. |provided with First Appointment Passage. |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |Actual expenditure varies from year to year depending on the cost of |
| | | | | | | |transportation of baggage up to the eligible officers’ entitlement. |
| | | | | | | |The increase in the 2006-07 revised estimate is partly due to a |
| | | | | | | |projected increase in the number of dependent children of eligible |
| | | | | | | |officers receiving School Passage Allowance, who may claim baggage |
| | | | | | | |allowance when they start education overseas. |
| |d. Travelling expenses |5,960 | **12 156 |2,161 |**8 906 |$1.1 per kilometre for children aged between 5 |The provision of the benefit as a fringe benefit has been ceased for |
| | | | |(-63.7%) | |and 15 and $2.19 per kilometre for those aged |officers offered appointment on or after 1.1.1999, except for those |
| | | | | | |16 and over. |provided with First Appointment Passage. The allowance rates for |
| | | | | | | |travelling expenses in the country of origin or country of study have |
| | | | | | | |been frozen with no further rate adjustment. Travelling expenses in |
| | | | | | | |the country of study have been subsumed under the ceiling rates of |
| | | | | | | |School Passage Allowance (SPA) without separate provision with effect |
| | | | | | | |from 1.9.2006. |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |The decrease in the 2006-07 revised estimate is mainly due to subsuming|
| | | | | | | |the provision of travelling expenses under SPA effective from 1.9.2006.|
|IV. |Home Financing Allowance |1,610,032 | 6 012 |1,276,851 | 4 885 |$13,790 - $38,190 per month |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or |
| |(Subhead 033) | | |(-20.7%) | | |after 1.6.2000. The number of participants has been on the decrease |
| | | | | | | |because the number of participants leaving the scheme exceeds the |
| | | | | | | |number of new joinees. The expenditure has been on the decrease mainly|
| | | | | | | |due to the decrease in the number of participants. |
|V. |Private Tenancy Allowance |137,627 | 705 |146,401 | 702 |Single Rate : $5,450 - $21,180 per month |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or |
| |(Subhead 038) | | |(+6.4%) | |Married Rate : $6,140 - $23,830 per month |after 1.10.1990. The increase in expenditure arises mainly from an |
| | | | | | |Family Rate : $6,820 - $26,470 per month |increase in the allowance rates due to salary progression. |
Footnotes :
1. Number of recipients marked with * means the number of students.
2. Number of recipients marked with ** means the number of claims.
3. Expenditure items marked with # include allowances payable to officers who are posted outside Hong Kong. Provision of the allowances to these officers arises from the officers’ external postings; they are not provided to the officers as fringe benefits.
4. Existing claimants refer to eligible children of eligible officers who are already receiving LEA in the school year immediately before the commencement of the 2006/07 school year.
5. New claimants refer to eligible children of eligible officers who start to claim LEA from the 2006/07 school year onwards.
6. Existing claimants refer to eligible children of eligible officers who are already receiving OEA in the school year immediately before the commencement of the 2006/07 school year or the 2007 school year, as the case may be.
7. New claimants refer to eligible children of eligible officers who start to claim OEA from the 2006/07 school year or the 2007 school year onwards, as the case may be.
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB022 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1270 |
|Head: |046 General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |023 Quartering |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Please list out and compare the breakdowns of expenditure, the number of allowance recipients and the relevant allowance rates under the above |
|Subhead in 2005-06 and 2006-07; please also give the reasons for the change in expenditure of this Subhead in 2005-06 and 2006-07. |
|Asked by: Hon. CHEUNG Man-kwong |
|Reply: |
| |
|The 2005-06 actual expenditure and the 2006-07 revised estimated expenditure for the Subhead, together with the corresponding number of |
|recipients and allowances rates, are set out in the Annex. The reasons for the change in expenditure under the Subhead in 2005-06 and 2006-07 |
|are also set out in the Annex. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
Head 46 General Expenses of the Civil Service Subhead 023 Quartering
| |2005-06 |2006-07 | | |
|Allowance |Actual Expenditure |Actual No. of |Revised Estimated |Estimated No. of |Allowance Rates |Reason for change in expenditure |
| |($000) |Recipients |Expenses ($000) |Recipients | | |
|Quartering |51,987 | 3 785 |30,678 | 1 369 | | |
|(Subhead 023) | | |(-41%) | | | |
|a. Hotel Subsistence |0 | 0 |17 | 7 |Per adult/child aged 4 or above: $85 per night|The allowance, as a fringe benefit, has been ceased on 1 October 2006. |
|Allowance1&2 | | |(N.A.) | | |Expenditure on this allowance varies from year to year as the allowance|
| | | | | |Per child aged below 4: $35 per night |is provided on a need basis. |
|b. Housing Allowance for |25,214 | 729 |24,911 | 803 |The amount of the allowance is equal to the |The expenditure has been remaining at about the same level in 2005-06 |
|Disciplined Services | | |(-1.2%) | |rent payable by the officer concerned to the |and 2006-07. |
| | | | | |Housing Authority, offset by a deduction from | |
| | | | | |his salary of an amount equal to the rent | |
| | | | | |which he would normally be required to pay to | |
| | | | | |the Government for occupying departmental | |
| | | | | |quarters. | |
|c. Provision of hotel |255 | 11 |361 | 31 |Ceiling rate ranges from $715 to $1,400 per |The provision of hotel accommodation, as a fringe benefit, has been |
|accommodation1 | | |(+41.6%) | |room per night. |ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1 June 2000. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |Expenditure on this item varies from year to year as the allowance is |
| | | | | | |provided on a need basis. |
|d. Removal Allowance |26,518 | 3 045 |5,339 | 528 |The rate ranges from $5,170 to $22,110. |Expenditure varies from year to year as the allowance is provided on a |
| | | |(-79.9%) | | |need basis. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |Expenditure for 2006-07 is estimated to be lower than that for 2005-06 |
| | | | | | |mainly because most officers affected by the exercise on purchase of |
| | | | | | |surplus Home Ownership Scheme flats for reprovisioning departmental |
| | | | | | |quarters for the disciplined services have been relocated and have |
| | | | | | |claimed the removal allowance in 2005-06 and no similar large scale |
| | | | | | |relocation exercise has taken place in 2006-07. |
|e. Management Fees and Rates |0 | N.A. |50 | N.A. |N.A. |To meet necessary payment of management fees and rents for any vacant |
|for Government Built Housing | | |(N.A.) | | |units that may arise under the housing schemes concerned, it is our |
|Scheme | | | | | |long established practice to seek a small provision under Subhead 023. |
| | | | | | |Expenditure is on a need basis. |
Footnotes :
1. These expenditure items include allowances payable to officers who are posted outside Hong Kong. Provision of the allowances to these officers arises from the officers’ external postings; they are not provided to the officers as fringe benefits.
2. Recipients include family members of eligible officers.
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB023 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1690 |
|Head: 46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |040 Non-accountable cash |
| | |allowance |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Would the Administration please advise this Committee of the details of the non-accountable cash allowance (NCA)? |
|Asked by: Hon. KWONG Chi-kin |
|Reply: |
|The NCA Scheme was introduced as part and parcel of the remuneration package of the New Terms of appointment for officers offered |
|appointment on or after 1 June 2000. It is the only major type of civil service housing benefit that is applicable for officers |
|offered appointment on or after this date to replace the Home Financing Scheme, the Home Purchase Scheme and the Rent Allowance Scheme.|
|The NCA is provided as a condition of service for officers on or above Master Pay Scale Point (MPS) 34 or equivalent. For officers on |
|MPS 22 to 33 or equivalent with at least 3 years of continuous service, and those below MPS 22 or equivalent with at least 20 years of |
|continuous service, provision of the NCA is subject to the same quota system under the Home Purchase Scheme. Officers who meet the |
|eligibility criteria and the terms and conditions of the Scheme will receive a monthly non-accountable cash allowance at specified |
|rates for a maximum period of 120 months. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB024 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1691 |
|Head: 46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |040 Non-accountable cash allowance |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|The number of recipients of non-accountable cash allowance increased from 85 in 2005 to 125 in 2006. It is estimated that the number |
|of recipients will reach 200 in 2007. On what bases is the estimated figure derived? |
|Asked by: Hon. KWONG Chi-kin |
|Reply: |
| |
|The number is expected to rise from 125 in 2006 to 200 in 2007, i.e. an increase of 60%, taking into account the average increase in |
|the number of new joinees over the past three years and the latest wastage figures. We anticipate that the number will continue to |
|increase from a relatively small base with new intakes and serving officers attaining eligibility for the allowance through salary |
|progression. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB025 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0747 |
|Head: |46 General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |001 Salaries |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|The establishment of central reserves will be reduced to 188 posts in 2007-08. In this connection, will the Administration inform this Committee|
|of the following : |
|1. apart from the 517 posts for the project on replacement of Hong Kong Identity Cards, please provide a list of the time-limited projects |
|carrying the other 72 posts that have been deleted; |
|2. whether the Administration has assisted the 589 staff members mentioned above in finding jobs after they have left the service; |
|3. why has the Administration not considered deploying the staff mentioned above to assist in the preparation for the celebration of the 10th |
|Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region? |
|Asked by: Hon. LI Fung-ying |
|Reply: |
1) The time-limited projects carrying the other 72 posts can be categorised as follows-
|Work Categories |Number of Posts |
|General clerical support |57 |
|Public enquiry and customer service |11 |
|Departmental support (e.g. handling various applications |3 |
|from the public) | |
|Secretarial support |1 |
|Total |72 |
2) On completion of the time-limited projects, the 589 officers concerned were/will be transferred to take up suitable jobs in other bureaux and departments, including filling vacancies arising from natural wastage, or other time-limited posts e.g. assisting in the preparation for the celebration of 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Since the officers concerned are civil servants on permanent establishment and are not leaving the civil service, we do not need to provide further employment assistance to them.
(3) We plan to arrange about 10 clerical staff from those mentioned above to assist in the preparation for the celebration of 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |13 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB026 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1164 |
|Head: |46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |027 Staff Suggestions and Motivation |
| | | |Schemes |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|The actual expenditure on Staff Suggestions and Motivation Schemes was $78,000 in 2005-06, while the revised estimate for 2006-07 is $12,000. |
|What are the reasons for the sharp decrease in the expenditure? Will any measures be taken to encourage civil servants to participate actively |
|in the schemes? If yes, what are the details? |
|Asked by: Hon. NG Margaret |
|Reply: |
| |
|The actual expenditure of $78,000 under subhead 027 Staff Suggestions and Motivation Schemes in 2005-06 included expenditure incurred for the |
|presentation ceremony of the Secretary for the Civil Service’s Commendation Award Scheme. In 2006-07, the provision for the presentation |
|ceremony was included under Head 143 – Government Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau which is a more appropriate expenditure head for meeting the |
|expenditure. We will continue to charge the relevant expenditure to Head 143 in 2007-08. |
| |
|The Staff Suggestions Scheme is an incentive scheme to encourage staff to make suggestions on improving civil service efficiency. While |
|departments with 100 or more staff will reserve funds under their own departmental votes for implementing the Staff Suggestions Scheme within |
|their departments, Civil Service Bureau (CSB) maintains a central fund to award service-wide suggestions and to cater for the needs of |
|departments with less than 100 staff. The level of spending under this subhead depends on the actual number of suggestions received and selected|
|for award, and is difficult to estimate accurately. CSB regularly promotes the scheme. We will continue to publicise it through various |
|channels such as the Civil Service Newsletter, departmental consultative committee meetings and special promotional announcements. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB027 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2487 |
|Head: |46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |013 Personal allowances |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: | |
|Please provide the details of the following in terms of the actual numbers for 2004-05 and 2005-06, the revised numbers for 2006-07 and the |
|estimate for 2007-08 under the Subhead: |
|a. officers receiving local education allowance and the expenditure involved; |
|b. officers receiving overseas education allowance and the expenditure involved; |
|c. children of officers receiving local education allowance and the expenditure involved; and |
|d. children of officers receiving overseas education allowance and the expenditure involved. |
|Asked by: Hon. SIN Chung-kai |
|Reply: |
|Education allowances are payable to eligible children of eligible officers who are students and meet the respective eligibility criteria for |
|the allowances. Relevant information for the respective financial year is set out below: |
| |2004-05 |2005-06 |2006-07 |2007-08 |
| |Actual No. |Actual |Actual No. |Actual |Estimated No. |Estimated |Estimated No.|Estimated |
| |of Students |Expenditure |of Students |Expenditure |of Students |Expenditure |of Students |Expenditure |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | |($000) | |($000) | |($000) | |($000) |
|Local Education|20 304 |284,023 |21 337 |309,546 |22 117 |336,592 |22 476 |370,983 |
|Allowance | | | | | | | | |
|Overseas |5 136 |619,086 |4 773 |576,866 |4 727 |579,662 |4 791 |600,630 |
|Education | | | | | | | | |
|Allowance | | | | | | | | |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB028 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1271 |
|Head: |46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |013 Personal allowances |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question : |
| |
|Will the Administration inform this Committee of the amount of local education allowance and of overseas education allowance to be paid in the |
|year of 2007-08? |
|Asked by : Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply : |
| |
|The estimated expenditure on local education allowance and overseas education allowance in 2007-08 is $370,983,000 and $600,630,000 |
|respectively. |
| | |
|Signature | |
| | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
| | |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
| | |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB029 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1272 |
|Head: 46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |013 Personal allowances |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Will the Administration inform this Committee of the estimated number of officers who will receive the furniture and domestic |
|appliances allowances and the house allowance under subhead 013 in the year of 2007-08 and the expenditure involved? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
|The estimated numbers of officers that will be receiving furniture and domestic appliances allowances and house allowance in 2007-08 |
|are 13 599 and 1 with expenditure of $17,499,000 and $600 respectively. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB030 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1273 |
|Head: 46 - General Expenses of the Civil |Subhead (No. & title): |040 Non-accountable cash |
|Service | |allowance |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Given the huge increase of 62.3% in the expenditure under subhead 040 for the year of 2007-08 over the revised estimate for 2006-07, |
|will the administration inform this Committee of the number of recipients and the median salary in 2007-08 as compared to those of |
|2006-07? |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
| |
|The estimated average number of recipients in 2006-07 is 138 and is estimated to increase to 221 in 2007-08 because of new intakes |
|and serving officers attaining eligibility for the allowance through salary progression. |
| |
|The median salaries of the recipients for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are $49,700 and $46,500 respectively. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB031 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2202 |
|Head: |46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |023 - Quartering |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Under Operating Account Subhead 023, the revised estimate for 2006-07 is $30,678,000, 40% lower than the approved estimate for $51,137,000. What|
|accounts for this dramatic drop? |
|Asked by: Hon. YOUNG Howard |
|Reply: |
| |
|The revised estimate for 2006-07 is $20,459,000 (40%) lower than the approved estimate for 2006-07 mainly because of the lower than expected |
|requirement of housing allowance for disciplined services and removal allowance for the following reasons – |
| |
|serving disciplined services officers who obtain public housing through the Civil Service Public Housing Quota (CSPHQ) (Special Quota) are |
|eligible to claim the housing allowance for disciplined services. The number of claimants / eligible officers are less than the projected figure|
|in the approved estimate for 2006-07 mainly because of the lower CSPHQ take-up rate compared to that in the previous year; and |
|the requirement for removal allowance in 2006-07 is estimated to be less than the approved estimate for 2006-07. This is mainly because of the |
|lower than expected demand for the allowance under the Home Ownership Scheme reprovisioning exercise due to reasons such as some affected |
|occupants vacated their quarters before the commencement of the exercise, some did not claim the allowance for their own reasons and some of the |
|amounts claimed are lower. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB032 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2203 |
|Head: |46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |027 Staff Suggestions and Motivation |
| | | |Schemes |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Under Operating Account Subhead 027, the revised estimate for 2006-07 is $12,000, 83% lower than the approved estimate for $70,000. What accounts|
|for this dramatic drop? |
|Asked by: Hon. YOUNG Howard |
|Reply: |
| |
|The Staff Suggestions Scheme is an incentive scheme to encourage staff to make suggestions on improving civil service efficiency. While |
|departments with 100 or more staff will reserve funds under their own departmental votes for implementing the Staff Suggestions Scheme within |
|their departments, Civil Service Bureau (CSB) maintains a central fund to award service-wide suggestions and to cater for the needs of departments|
|with less than 100 staff. The level of spending under this subhead depends on the actual number of suggestions received and selected for the |
|award, and is difficult to estimate accurately. The revised estimate for 2006-07 is a result of a smaller number of winning entries than expected|
|in the year. We will strengthen our promotion of the scheme and will publicise it through various channels such as Civil Service Newsletter, |
|departmental consultative committee meetings and special promotional announcements. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB033 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2204 |
|Head: |46 - General Expenses of the Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |027 Staff Suggestions and Motivation |
| | | |Schemes |
|Programme: |General Expenses of the Civil Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Under Operating Account Subhead 027, how much provision will be allocated for improving services through educational programmes, publicity and |
|awards respectively and what is the target set for 2007-2008 financial year? |
|Asked by: Hon. YOUNG Howard |
|Reply: |
|The provision under Subhead 027 Staff Suggestions and Motivation Scheme is for expenditure under the Staff Suggestions Scheme. |
| |
|The Staff Suggestions Scheme is an incentive scheme to encourage staff to make suggestions on improving civil service efficiency. While departments|
|with 100 or more staff will reserve funds under their own departmental votes for implementing the Staff Suggestions Scheme within their departments,|
|Civil Service Bureau (CSB) maintains a central fund to award service-wide suggestions and to cater for the needs of departments with less than 100 |
|staff. The level of spending under this subhead will depend on the actual number of suggestions received and selected for award. CSB regularly |
|promotes the scheme. We will continue to publicise it through various channels such as the Civil Service Newsletter, departmental consultative |
|committee meetings and special promotional announcements. |
| |
|The Staff Motivation Scheme was introduced in 1993 to promote performance and quality service. Its administration has been devolved to |
|bureaux/departments since 1998 and expenses are met from their votes. Bureaux/departments devise their own schemes to motivate staff performance, |
|such as staff competitions on service excellence/improvement, awards for staff for efficiency and productivity enhancement, and outstanding staff |
|award to recognize individual staff or teams with outstanding performance. |
| |
|Other educational programmes, publicity and award schemes for improving services, such as the many service enhancement training programmes by the |
|Civil Service Training and Development Institute and the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme, are organized under Head 143 – Government |
|Secretariat: Civil Service Bureau. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Andrew H Y WONG |
|Post Title |Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB034 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1083 |
|Head: 120 - Pensions |Subhead |026 Employees’ compensation, injury, incapacity and death related payments and|
| |(No. & title): |expenses |
|Programme: |(1) Public and Judicial Service Pension Benefits |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|More than $40 million was spent in 2005-06 on Employees’ compensation, injury, incapacity and death related payments and expenses. The |
|estimates for this expenditure in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are over $50 million and $60 million respectively. It was projected that more money |
|will be spent in this item when claims from registered Chinese medicine practitioners are recognized under the Employees’ Compensation |
|Ordinance. How much more is projected because of the new law? |
| |
|For the 2006-07 cases, how many have been processed? Please give a breakdown of the cases by department/bureau. Which departments got the |
|biggest number of cases? How were the figures compared with the previous year? |
|Asked by: Hon. CHAN Bernard |
|Reply: |
|The estimates for 2007-08 have included a provision of $10 million for the expenses for medical treatment and examination upon recognition |
|of treatment, certification and examination by registered Chinese medicine practitioners under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance. |
| |
|For 2006-07 up to 28 February 2007, payments have been made for 1 145 cases of employees’ compensation, injury, incapacity and death related|
|payments and expenses. A breakdown of the cases by bureau/department and the comparison with the previous year are at the Annex. By the |
|end of February 2007, the Hong Kong Police Force had the highest number of employees’ compensation cases in 2006-07. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
Annex
(P.1 of 2)
Breakdown of Employees’ Compensation Cases by Bureau/Department
|Bureau/Department |2005-06 |2006-07 |Change |
| | |(up to 28.2.2007) | |
|Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department |166 |54 |-112 |
|Architectural Services Department |3 |1 |-2 |
|Auxiliary Medical Services |1 |1 |- |
|Buildings Department |1 |- |-1 |
|Census and Statistics Department |2 |- |-2 |
|Civil Aid Service |38 |5 |-33 |
|Civil Aviation Department |- |1 |+1 |
|Civil Engineering and Development Department |8 |3 |-5 |
|Companies Registry |- |1 |+1 |
|Correctional Services Department |34 |31 |-3 |
|Customs and Excise Department |17 |15 |-2 |
|Department of Health |28 |30 |+2 |
|Drainage Services Department |13 |4 |-9 |
|Economic Development and Labour Bureau |2 |4 |+2 |
|Education and Manpower Bureau |22 |18 |-4 |
|Electrical and Mechanical Services Department |9 |25 |+16 |
|Environmental Protection Department |1 |1 |- |
|Fire Services Department |109 |104 |-5 |
|Food and Environmental Hygiene Department |233 |246 |+13 |
|Government Flying Service |11 |4 |-7 |
|Government Logistics Department |2 |4 |+2 |
|Highways Department |6 |6 |- |
|Home Affairs Bureau |- |1 |+1 |
|Home Affairs Department |3 |- |-3 |
|Hong Kong Observatory |- |2 |+2 |
|Hong Kong Police Force |214 |254 |+40 |
|Hongkong Post |115 |87 |-28 |
|Hospital Authority |54 |51 |-3 |
|Housing Department |- |3 |+3 |
|Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau |18 |8 |-10 |
|Immigration Department |14 |14 |- |
|Independent Commission Against Corruption |1 |2 |+1 |
|Secretariat for Independent Police Complaints Council |- |1 |+1 |
|Inland Revenue Department |6 |7 |+1 |
|Judiciary |1 |2 |+1 |
|Labour Department |6 |2 |-4 |
|Land Registry |3 |1 |-2 |
|Lands Department |6 |3 |-3 |
|Legal Aid Department |2 |- |-2 |
|Leisure and Cultural Services Department |97 |91 |-6 |
|Marine Department |12 |11 |-1 |
|Offices of the Chief Secretary for Administration and the |1 |2 |+1 |
|Financial Secretary | | | |
Annex
(P.2 of 2)
|Bureau/Department |2005-06 |2006-07 |Change |
| | |(up to 28.2.2007) | |
|Radio Television Hong Kong |3 |1 |-2 |
|Rating and Valuation Department |1 |- |-1 |
|Social Welfare Department |10 |11 |+1 |
|Trade and Industry Department |1 |- |-1 |
|Transport Department |5 |2 |-3 |
|Water Supplies Department |48 |31 |-17 |
| TOTAL |1 327 |1 145 |-182 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB035 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0811 |
|Head: 120 Pensions |Subhead (No. & title): |015 Public and judicial service pension benefits and compensation |
|Programme: |(1) Public and Judicial Service Pension Benefits |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
|The estimate for 2007-08 is $1,317.9 million (9.6%) higher than the revised estimate for 2006-07. This is mainly to make provisions for the |
|payment of pension gratuities to new retirees. |
|Please provide a breakdown of the number of public and judicial officers who are current pension receivers, and a breakdown of the number of |
|public and judicial officers who are new pension receivers, as well as the expenditure incurred respectively. |
|(2) What are the reasons for an anticipated increase in payment of pension gratuities to new retirees in 2007-08? |
|Asked by: Hon. KWONG Chi-kin |
|Reply: |
|(1) As at 31 March 2006, there were 83 559 pensioners with an estimated recurrent pension expenditure of $8,140 million in 2006-07. We do not |
|keep a breakdown of pensioners by public and judicial officers. For new pension receivers, a breakdown of public and judicial officers |
|estimated to retire in the respective years of 2006-07 and 2007-08 is as follows: |
| |2006-07 |2007-08 |
| |--------------------------------- |------------------------------------ |
| |No. of |Expenditure |No. of Retirees |Expenditure |
| |Retirees |$ million | |$ million |
| | | | | |
| Public Officer |3 463 |4,060.5 |3 979 |4,849.1 |
|Judicial Officer |4 |22.5 |5 |25.1 |
| |------- |------------ |------- |------------ |
|Total |3 467 |4,083.0 |3 984 |4,874.2 |
| |==== |======= |==== |======= |
2) The expected increase in pension gratuities payable for new retirees in 2007-08 is due to the anticipated increase in the number of new retirees from 3 467 in 2006-07 to 3 984 in 2007-08.
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB036 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2653 |
|Head: 120 - Pensions |Subhead |026 Employees’ compensation, injury, incapacity and death related payments and |
| |(No. & title): |expenses |
|Programme: |(1) Public and Judicial Service Pension Benefits |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|Under Subhead 026, it is estimated that there will be an increase of $9.72 m (19.1%) for the Employees’ compensation, injury, incapacity and|
|death related payments and expenses for 2007-08 because more government employees will claim for the expenses for medical treatment and |
|examination by registered Chinese medicine practitioners. How is the figure projected? Please also provide a breakdown of the number of |
|employees to which the Government made payment of compensation in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 respectively. |
|Asked by: Hon. TAM Yiu-chung |
|Reply: |
|Under Subhead 026, a provision of $10 million has been included in 2007-08 estimates for the expenses for medical treatment and examination |
|upon recognition of treatment, certification and examination by registered Chinese medicine practitioners under the Employees’ Compensation |
|Ordinance, which is offset by a projected slight decrease in the number of employees’ compensation cases, resulting in a net increase of |
|$9.72 million. The provision of $10 million was based on the number of injured on duty cases in the past few years and a survey conducted |
|by the Labour Department regarding the propensity of injured on duty officers to seek Chinese medicine treatment. |
| |
|The number of employees’ compensation cases paid by the Government in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 (up to 28.2.2007) are 1 515, 1 327 and |
|1 145 respectively. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
|Date |14 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB037 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |1081 |
|Head: 136 - Public Service Commission |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |Public Service Commission |
|Controlling Officer: |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: The number of disciplinary cases received by the Commission was 104 and 103 in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Please provide a |
|breakdown of the cases by categories and departments and explain the actions/punishments which have been taken for the convicted. |
|Asked by: Hon. CHAN Bernard |
|Reply: A breakdown of the disciplinary cases dealt with by the Public Service Commission in 2005 and 2006 by categories is provided below|
|- |
| | |No. of cases |
| |Category |2005 |2006 |
|(a) |Criminal convictions* |48 |48 |
|(b) |Unauthorised absence/Unpunctuality/Abscondment |22 |22 |
|(c) |Negligence/Failure to perform duties or follow instructions/Supervisory |11 |13 |
| |accountability/ Insubordination | | |
|(d) |Improper claim of allowance/reimbursement |2 |1 |
|(e) |Falsified attendance or work records/Provision of false information |3 |1 |
|(f) |Unauthorised loans |1 |7 |
|(g) |Other misconduct# |17 |11 |
| |Total: |104 |103 |
* Including theft, assault/common assault, misconduct in public office, indecent assault, possession of dangerous drugs, deception/fraud/attempted fraud, acceptance of advantage/excessive entertainment, behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place, undischarged bankrupt obtaining credit and traffic-related offences.
# Including unauthorised outside work, using violence/being rude to supervisors, failure to report criminal proceedings, breach of housing benefit rules and acceptance of advantage/excessive entertainment.
A breakdown of these cases by departments is as follows –
|Bureau/Department |No. of Cases |
| |2005 |2006 |
|Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department |4 |2 |
|Auxiliary Medical Service |1 |1 |
|Architectural Services Department |5 |2 |
|Buildings Department |1 |1 |
|Census and Statistics Department |3 |1 |
|Civil Aviation Department |1 |2 |
|Civil Engineering and Development Department |1 |0 |
|Correctional Services Department |4 |2 |
|Customs and Excise Department |1 |0 |
|Department of Health |4 |2 |
|Department of Justice |1 |2 |
|Drainage Services Department |0 |2 |
|Electrical and Mechanical Services Department |5 |4 |
|Environmental Protection Department |1 |1 |
|Food and Environmental Hygiene Department |13 |15 |
|Government Property Agency |0 |1 |
|Government Secretariat |4 |6 |
|Highways Department |1 |2 |
|Hong Kong Police Force |2 |7 |
|Housing Department |10 |4 |
|Immigration Department |4 |6 |
|Secretariat for Independent Police Complaints Council |0 |1 |
|Inland Revenue Department |1 |0 |
|Invest Hong Kong |1 |0 |
|Judiciary |5 |2 |
|Lands Department |2 |1 |
|Leisure and Cultural Services Department |6 |7 |
|Marine Department |2 |1 |
|Planning Department |0 |1 |
|Post Office |6 |7 |
|Radio Television Hong Kong |1 |0 |
|Bureau/Department |No. of Cases |
| |2005 |2006 |
|Social Welfare Department |8 |11 |
|Trade and Industry Department |0 |1 |
|Transport Department |1 |0 |
|Water Supplies Department |5 |8 |
|Total: |104 |103 |
A breakdown of the cases by level of punishment, following formal disciplinary action against the concerned officers, is given below –
|Level of Punishment |2005 |2006 |
|Dismissal |21 |21 |
|Compulsory retirement + fine |9 |3 |
|Compulsory retirement |15 |12 |
|Severe reprimand + fine |35 |36 |
|Severe reprimand |8 |7 |
|Reprimand + fine |7 |10 |
|Reprimand |9 |14 |
|Total: |104 |103 |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Nicholas W.F. NG |
|Post Title |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB038 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0819 |
|Head: 136 - Public Service Commission |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |Public Service Commission |
|Controlling Officer: |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: The estimate for 2007-08 is $15.2m, which represents an increase of 1.3% over the revised estimate for 2006-07. Please provide the |
|breakdown on the number of cases on appointment on agreement terms, extension of service and re-employment after retirement respectively. |
|Asked by: Hon. KWONG Chi-kin |
|Reply: The required information is provided below – |
| |No. of cases on : |2006 |
| |appointment on agreement terms |21 |
| |extension of service |4 |
| |re-employment after retirement |5 |
| |Total |30 |
|Signature | |
| |Nicholas W.F. NG |
|Name in block letters | |
| |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Post Title | |
| |15 March 2007 |
|Date | |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB039 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2174 |
|Head: 136 - Public Service Commission |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |Public Service Commission |
|Controlling Officer: |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: Apart from recruitment, promotion and disciplinary cases, submissions received and advised by the Commission also involve “other |
|subjects”, which amount to 113 cases for the year of 2006. Please elaborate what these cases are. |
|Asked by: Hon. NG Margaret |
|Reply: The cases under “other subjects” covered mainly deferment/refusal of passage of probation/trial bar, retirement in the public interest |
|under section 12 of the Public Service (Administration) Order and updating of Guides to Appointment. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Nicholas W.F. NG |
|Post Title |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB040 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2407 |
|Head: 136 - Public Service Commission |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |Public Service Commission |
|Controlling Officer: |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: Please advise on the number of civil servants at different levels who are involved in the 103 disciplinary cases received and advised|
|by the Public Service Commission in 2006. Is the Commission’s target to respond within six weeks upon receipt of the submissions from the |
|Administration achieved? Please tabulate the response time for these 103 cases. |
|Asked by: Hon. NG Margaret |
|Reply: (a) A breakdown of the disciplinary cases received and advised by the Commission in 2006 by salary group is provided below – |
|Salary Group |No. of officers involved |
|Officers remunerated at or below Master Pay Scale (MPS) Point (Pt.)13 or |51 |
|equivalent | |
|(i.e. those remunerated at $17,145 or below) | |
|Officers remunerated at MPS Pt. 14 to 33 or equivalent |41 |
|(i.e. those remunerated between $18,010 and $43,940) | |
|Officers remunerated at MPS Pt. 34 and above or equivalent (i.e. those |11 |
|remunerated at 45,240 or above) | |
|Total |103 |
| (b) The Commission had met in full the target pledged time of six weeks in processing all 103 disciplinary cases in 2006. |
| |
|(c) The processing time of each case varied and broadly the response time could be tabulated as follows - |
| |Response time |No. of cases |
| |Less than two weeks |10 |
| |Between two and four weeks |39 |
| |More than four weeks but within six weeks |54 |
| |Total |103 |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Nicholas W.F. NG |
|Post Title |Chairman, Public Service Commission |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB041 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |0959 |
|Head: 174 - Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service |Subhead (No. & title): |000 Operational expenses |
|and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service | | |
|Programme: |Secretariat services for the following advisory bodies on civil service and judicial salaries and conditions of |
| |service – |
| | |
| |Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service |
| |Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service |
| |Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service |
| |Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service |
|Controlling Officer: |Secretary General, Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and |
| |Conditions of Service |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|The estimate for 2007-08 is $13,446,000, which represents an increase of $5,277,000 over the revised estimate for 2006-07. General |
|departmental expenses decreased from $1,682,000 in 2005-06 to $827,000 in 2006-07 but rise to $2,304,000 in the estimate for 2007-08. |
|Please explain the criteria used in preparing the estimate and provide detailed information on the distribution of the increased |
|provision. |
|Asked by: Hon. KWONG Chi-kin |
|Reply: |
|The estimates in respect of the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of |
|Service (Joint Secretariat) are prepared having regard to the anticipated workload and the resources required for that particular year. |
|The revised estimate of the general departmental expenses of the Joint Secretariat for 2006-07 is $827,000, whereas the estimate of the |
|general departmental expenses for 2007-08 is $2.304 million. The increase is attributed to the general departmental expenses required |
|for undertaking work in relation to individual grade structure reviews. The increased provision is mainly to cater for additional |
|equipment and the hire of services and professional fees, etc. The Joint Secretariat allocates the financial provision according to the |
|actual needs. |
| | |
|Signature | |
| |Ms Michelle LI |
|Name in block letters | |
| |Secretary General, Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on|
| |Civil Service and Judicial Salaries |
| |and Conditions of Service |
|Post Title | |
| |14 March 2007 |
|Date | |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB042 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2274 |
|Head: |37 Department of Health |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(7) Medical and Dental Treatment for Civil Servants |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Health |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question: |
| |
|“The Government, working together with the Hospital Authority (HA), aims to develop an on-line Medical and Dental Benefits Eligibility Checking |
|System”. Please advise this Committee: |
| |
|(i) What are the details of the plan, and timeframe of implementation? How the efficiency of medical and dental service institutions is |
|expected to be enhanced by the system? |
| |
|(ii) What is the expenditure involved? |
|Asked by: Hon. SIN Chung-kai |
|Reply: |
| |
|At present, persons eligible for civil service medical and dental benefits (eligible persons) are required to present a valid treatment |
|application form or a pensioner’s card to prove their eligibility when seeking medical or dental treatment at the facilities of the Department |
|of Health and the Hospital Authority (HA) (designated facilities). Eligible persons are also required to produce proof of identity for |
|inspection by staff of the designated facilities. As a measure to streamline administrative procedures, the Government is working jointly with |
|HA to develop a Medical and Dental Benefits Eligibility Checking System (ECS) to replace the current mode of paper-based eligibility checking. |
|The ECS is a computer-based system which will enable all designated facilities to have on-line access to the data stored in the system for |
|verification of eligibility status of the eligible persons when they seek treatment. Upon implementation of the ECS, eligible persons will no |
|longer be required to present a treatment application form/pensioner’s card when they attend the designated facilities. They will only be |
|required to produce proof of identity for inspection by staff of the designated facilities, the latter will check their eligibility status |
|through the ECS. The ECS will enhance efficiency of the eligibility verification process, bring greater convenience to eligible persons and |
|save administrative work of departmental management in issuing the treatment application forms/pensioner’s cards. |
| |
|The ECS will be implemented in two phases. We aim to roll out the first and second phases in the fourth quarter of 2007 and the second quarter |
|of 2008 respectively. |
| |
|The non-recurrent cost of developing the ECS is estimated at $8.8 million and the annual recurrent cost is estimated at $2.9 million. |
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Dr P Y LAM |
|Post Title |Director of Health |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB043 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2603 |
|Head: |37 Department of Health |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(7) Medical and Dental Treatment for Civil Servants |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Health |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
Question:
Please list respectively by civil servants, retired civil servants and their eligible dependants:
a. attendances of medical and dental benefits provided by the Government in 2006-07. Please list the attendances of in-patient, out-patient and dental services and other benefits;
b. medical cost incurred by the medical and dental benefits used by the above persons in 2006-07;
c. the number of people joining voluntary medical insurance schemes and the Government expenditure on the relevant insurance schemes.
Asked by: Hon. YEUNG Sum
Reply:
(a) & (b) Medical and dental benefits are provided to civil service eligible persons through the facilities managed by the Hospital Authority (HA) and Department of Health (DH). The projected attendance figures and estimated costs of providing civil service medical and dental benefits for 2006-07 are as follows -
| | |Estimated Expenditure |
|Services |Attendance |($ million) |
|In-patient services provided by HA |335 000* |992.0 |
|Out-patient services | | |
|provided by HA |1 851 000 |975.0 |
| |172 000 |45.5 |
|provided by DH | | |
|Dental services provided by DH |632 000 | 350.2 |
|Payment and reimbursement of medical fees and hospital charges | | |
| |- |85.0 |
| Total | |2,447.7 |
* figure refers to bed-days
Breakdown of the above figures by civil servants, pensioners and eligible dependants is not available.
(c) The Voluntary Medical Insurance Scheme for Civil Servants and Non-Civil Service Staff, introduced in May 1996 and co-ordinated by the Civil Service Bureau, is open to serving officers only. The scheme aims to provide an option for officers to take out medical insurance for themselves and their families. As at 31 December 2006, 36 122 applications from civil servants to join the scheme have been approved. Those who join the scheme are required to pay the full premium and there is no subsidy from the Government.
|Signature | |
|Name in block letters |Dr P Y LAM |
|Post Title |Director of Health |
|Date |15 March 2007 |
| |Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2007-08 |Reply Serial No. |
| |CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO |CSB044 |
| |INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION | |
| | |Question Serial No. |
| | |2398 |
|Head: 188 Treasury |Subhead (No. & title): | |
|Programme: |(2) Payment of Salaries, Pensions and Benefits |
|Controlling Officer: |Director of Accounting Services |
|Director of Bureau: |Secretary for the Civil Service |
|Question : |
| |
|Concerning standard and non-standard allowances payable to civil servants, please provide information on the number of recipients, the |
|actual expenses for each of the allowances paid in 2005-06, the approved and revised estimates for 2006-07 and the estimate for 2007-08. |
|Please also give the reasons for the increase or decrease in expenditure in this respect. |
|Asked by : Hon. CHEUNG Man-kwong |
|Reply : |
| |
|Allowances payable to civil servants can be broadly categorised as those related to the performance of duties and those provided as |
|fringe benefits. Information on the expenditure and the number of recipients for these two types of allowances, with a breakdown for |
|individual allowances, is set out in Annex I and Annex II respectively. For allowances related to the performance of duties (see Annex |
|I), they are paid from departmental votes. Annex I shows the information available to us, namely the actual expenditure and the actual |
|number of recipients for 2005-06, and the projected figures for 2006-07 based on the actual expenditure and the actual number of |
|recipients from April to December 2006. The projected expenditure in 2006-07 shows a reduction of $108,106,000 or 9.5% over the actual |
|expenditure in 2005-06. Allowances which are fringe benefits are centrally voted. Annex II shows the actual and the estimated figures |
|regarding both expenditure and the number of recipients. The reasons for the change in expenditure are also set out in the two annexes. |
| | |
|Signature | |
| | |
|Name in block letters |Mrs Lucia LI |
| | |
|Post Title |Director of Accounting Services |
| | |
|Date |16 March 2007 |
Annex I
ALLOWANCES RELATING TO DUTY1
| | |2005-06 |2006-072 | |
| |Allowance |Actual |Actual no. of|Projected |No. of | |
| | |expenditure |recipients |expenditure ($000) |recipients3 |Remarks |
| | |($000) | | | | |
|I. |Acting Allowance |260,713 |17 047 |274,912 |16 525 |The rules for the payment of acting allowance were reviewed and tightened up in 2000, resulting in substantial |
| | | | |(+5.4%) | |reduction of expenditure from over $500M in 1999/2000 to less than $300M in subsequent years. Another review was|
| | | | | | |completed in 2004, resulting in the rates of acting allowance reduced with effect from July 2004. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |The total expenditure on acting allowance may vary from year to year, depending on the actual circumstances which|
| | | | | | |necessitate acting appointments (e.g. the pay level of the acting office). |
|II. |Overtime and Related Allowances|421,851 | |315,503 | |Expenditure on overtime and related allowances depends on operational needs. These allowances are only payable |
| | | | |(-25.2%) | |when time-off cannot be granted within one month of the overtime / standby performed. |
| |a. Overtime Allowance for |191,345 |20 367 |151,260 |14 361 |Following the hosting of the WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference in 2005-06, the projected expenditure on Overtime |
| |civilian staff | | |(-20.9%) | |Allowance for civilian staff, Disciplined Services Overtime Allowance and Honorarium for 2006-07 are |
| | | | | | |substantially reduced. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |b. Disciplined Services |183,777 |17 052 |123,074 |8 823 | |
| |Overtime Allowance | | |(-33.0%) | | |
| |c. Standby Duty Allowance |38,276 |2 975 |34,299 |2 416 | |
| | | | |(-10.4%) | | |
| |d. On-call Duty Allowance |5,171 |4 092 |5,009 |3 541 | |
| | | | |(-3.1%) | | |
| |e. Honorarium |3,282 |482 |1,861 |69 | |
| | | | |(-43.3%) | | |
|III. |Job-related Allowances (JRAs) |244,491 | |233,773 | |JRAs are payable to compensate staff for work beyond the normal duties expected of their grade and rank and which|
| | | | |(-4.4%) | |have not been taken into account in the relevant pay scales. Payment of such allowances is subject to |
| | | | | | |operational justifications. |
| |a. Extraneous Duties Allowance |6,210 |1 142 |4,763 |1 022 |The allowance is to compensate for duties which are extraneous to the job descriptions for the officers concerned|
| |for civilian staff | | |(-23.3%) | |and the discharge of such duties requires extra skill or imposes new responsibility not normally expected of |
| | | | | | |staff in the same grade or rank. The actual expenditure depends on operational needs. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |b. Extra Duties Allowance for |72,151 |11 608 |70,919 |11 315 |Minor year-to-year fluctuations. |
| |Disciplined Services staff | | |(-1.7%) | | |
| |c. Hardship Allowance |46,996 |8 311 |45,274 |8 256 |The allowance compensates for duties performed in work environment which may render staff liable to bodily harm |
| | | | |(-3.7%) | |or physical impairment of a degree not normally expected of staff in the same grade or rank. The actual |
| | | | | | |expenditure depends on operational needs. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |d. Typhoon/ Rainstorm Black |1 |21 |156 |606 |Actual expenditure depends on the number and duration of typhoons / rainstorm black warnings issued in that year.|
| |Warning Allowance | | |(+15500.0%) | | |
| | | | | | |No typhoon signal no. 8 or above and rainstorm black warning signal were issued in 2005-06, the expenditure arose|
| | | | | | |from late submission of claims for 2004-05. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |Three rainstorm black warning signals, lasting 6.5 hours, were issued in 2006, resulting in the increase in |
| | | | | | |2006-07 expenditure. |
| | | | | | | |
| |e. Shift Duty Allowance |67,826 |12 453 |63,836 |11 707 |Year-to-year fluctuations. Actual expenditure depends on operational requirement. |
| | | | |(-5.9%) | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |f. Special Allowances for |51,307 |11 579 |48,825 |11 101 |Examples of special allowances include those payable to staff deployed on detective duties and staff working |
| |disciplined services staff | | |(-4.8%) | |under pressurized conditions. The actual expenditure depends on operational needs. |
| | | | | | | |
|IV. |Subsistence Allowance4 |64,051 |N.A. |59,050 |N.A. |Year-to-year fluctuations. Actual expenditure depends on operational requirement. |
| | | | |(-7.8%) | | |
|V. |Travelling Allowances5 |76,635 |N.A. |70,852 |N.A. |This item covers expenditure on Supplementary Travel Allowance, Duty Travelling Expenses and Duty Mileage |
| | | | |(-7.5%) | |Allowance. The decrease in the 2006-07 projected expenditure is due to the decrease in the number of claims in |
| | | | | | |general which may be attributable to the more stringent control of such expenditure in departments and the |
| | | | | | |increasing awareness of the need to use the most appropriate mode of transport having regard to operational need |
| | | | | | |and cost-effectiveness. |
|VI. |Allowances for Officers Posted |55,715 | |60,851 | | |
| |Outside Hong Kong | | |(+9.2%) | | |
| |a. Rent Allowance |22,984 |85 |24,387 |104 |The increase in projected expenditure of 2006-07 is due to the establishment of new Economic and Trade Offices in|
| | | | |(+6.1%) | |Chengdu and Shanghai and the increase in number of officers posted outside Hong Kong. |
| |b. Special Posting Allowance |18,052 |101 |20,152 |148 |Special Posting Allowance is payable to officers to compensate for the inconvenience due to posting outside Hong |
| |(including Exchange | | |(+11.6%) | |Kong and the extra cost of living in the city of posting. The actual expenditure depends on the number of staff |
| |Compensation Allowance) | | | | |posted outside Hong Kong, their monthly salary, marital status and the cost of living in the cities of posting. |
| | | | | | |The increase in the projected expenditure for 2006-07 is due to the increased number of officers posted outside |
| | | | | | |Hong Kong and the higher cost of living in the cities of posting as compared with 2005-06. |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |c. Disturbance Grant |2,624 |42 |3,838 |67 |The allowance is payable to officers on commencement of and end of external postings. Actual expenditure depends|
| | | | |(+46.3%) | |on the number of staff movements in the year and ranking of the officers concerned. The large increase in the |
| | | | | | |projected expenditure of 2006-07 is due to the increased number of staff movements in the external offices. |
| |d. Expenses incurred by |12,055 |108 |12,474 |107 |Actual expenditure depends on the number of locally-engaged staff employed in the external offices. |
| |employers for employment of | | |(+3.5%) | | |
| |locally engaged staff in | | | | | |
| |offices outside Hong Kong for | | | | | |
| |meeting local statutory | | | | | |
| |requirements, etc. | | | | | |
|VII. |Other Allowances |11,438 | |11,847 | | |
| | | | |(+3.6%) | | |
| |a. ICAC Post Allowance |7,337 |980 |7,128 |933 |The allowance has been ceased for recruits offered appointment from June 2000. The allowance will be phased out |
| | | | |(-2.8%) | |in the long run. |
| |b. Others6 |4,101 |N.A. |4,719 |N.A. |This item includes allowances such as the Post Allowance payable to Survey Officers and Senior Survey Officers |
| | | | |(+15.1%) | |recruited before 1.7.1982. It also includes allowances incurred for external postings such as subsistence |
| | | | | | |allowances payable on commencement of and at the end of postings. |
| |Total |1,134,894 | |1,026,788 | | |
| | | | |(-9.5%) | | |
Footnotes
1 Duty-related allowances are paid under the respective Items under the heads of expenditure of individual bureaux/departments. Expenditure at the Item level is not separately shown in the approved estimate for 2006-07 and the estimate for 2007-08. The expenditure for duty-related allowances incurred by trading fund departments and publicly-funded organisations (e.g. Hospital Authority) is not included. Duty-related allowances payable to judicial officers only are also not included in the table. The number of recipients shown against each duty-related allowance means the number of officers receiving the allowance in the year, irrespective of the number of occasions on which the same individual officer receives the allowance.
2 For duty-related allowances, the 2006-07 expenditure figures are projected expenditure calculated by the Treasury based on the actual expenditure from April to December 2006. The percentage change is a comparison of the 2006-07 projected expenditure with the 2005-06 actual expenditure.
3 The number of recipients is the actual headcount as at 31.12.2006, assuming that the same officers continue to receive the allowances during the months of January to March 2007.
4 The expenditure figures under “Subsistence Allowance” cover local subsistence allowance only. Payments are made by individual departments in response to claims from the officers concerned. The Treasury does not have records on the total number of officers who have claimed the allowance. Expenditure in respect of overseas subsistence allowance is subsumed with expenditure on other minor items and cannot be separately identified.
5 For travelling allowances, payments are made by individual departments in response to claims from the officers concerned. The Treasury does not have records on the number of officers who have claimed these allowances.
6 Payments are made by individual departments in response to claims from the officers concerned. The Treasury does not have records on the number of officers who have claimed these allowances.
Annex II
ALLOWANCES THAT ARE FRINGE BENEFITS
| | |2005-06 |2006-07 |2006-07 |2007-08 | |
|Allowance |Actual expenditure ($000) |Actual no. of recipients |Approved estimate ($000) |Estimated no. of recipients |Revised estimate7 ($000) |Projected no. of recipients |Estimate
($000) |Estimated no. of recipients |Remarks | |I. |Education Allowances
|886,412
| |1,019,015 | |916,254
(+3.4%) | |971,613
(+6.0%) | | | | |a. Local Education Allowance (LEA)
|309,546
|*21 337 |351,985 |*23 613 |336,592
(+8.7%) |*22 117 |370,983
(+10.2%) |*22 476 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.6.2000 and the allowance rates have been frozen with no further rate adjustment since the 2006/07 school year. The expenditure on LEA continues to increase as both the number of students as well as the average school fees are generally on the rise. The increase in the 2007-08 draft estimate is mainly due to a projected increase in the number of children of eligible officers receiving LEA and the increase in the number of cases claiming higher LEA rates.
| | |b. Overseas Education Allowance#
|576,866
|*4 773 |667,030 |*5 558 |579,662
(+0.5%) |*4 727 |600,630
(+3.6%) |*4 791 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.8.1996 and the allowance rates have been frozen with no further rate adjustment since the 2006/07 or 2007 school year, as the case may be. The increase in the 2007-08 draft estimate is mainly due to a projected increase in the number of children of eligible officers studying overseas, the increase in overseas school fees and appreciation of the pound sterling.
| |II. |Housing and related allowances
|2,710,988 | |2,629,100 | |2,336,483
(-13.8%) | |2,306,044
(-1.3%) | | | | |a. Home Purchase Allowance
|856,381
|14 667 |894,000 |14 900 |820,099
(-4.2%) |14 740 |848,000
(+3.4%) |15 100 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.6.2000. The number of participants has been on the increase because the number of new joinees exceeds the number of participants leaving the scheme. The increase in expenditure arises partly from the increase in the number of participants and partly from an increase in the allowance rates due to salary progression.
| | |b. Home Financing Allowance
|1,610,032
|6 012 |1,489,000 |5 450 |1,276,851
(-20.7%) |4 885 |1,191,000
(-6.7%) |4 510 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.6.2000. The number of participants has been on the decrease because the number of participants leaving the scheme exceeds the number of new joinees. The expenditure has been on the decrease mainly due to the decrease in the number of participants.
| | |c. Private Tenancy Allowance
|137,627
|705 |138,000 |700 |146,401
(+6.4%) |702 |154,000
(+5.2%) |690 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.10.1990. The increase in expenditure arises mainly from an increase in the allowance rates due to salary progression.
| | |d. Accommodation Allowance
|20,626
|81 |20,400 |79 |20,239
(-1.9%) |74 |20,900
(+3.3%) |71 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.1.1999. The expenditure has been remaining at the same level. The increase in the allowance rates due to salary progression is offset by the decrease in the number of participants.
| | |e. Rent Allowance
|540
|4 |850 |7 |345
(-36.1%) |2 |570
(+65.2%) |4 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.6.2000. The increase in expenditure in the 2007-08 draft estimate arises partly from the increase in the number of participants and partly from an increase in the allowance rates due to salary progression.
| | |f. Non-accountable Cash Allowance
|18,044
|93 |20,500 |103 |25,257
(+40.0%) |138 |41,000
(+62.3%) |221 |The Non-accountable Cash Allowance Scheme covers eligible officers offered appointment from 1.6.2000. The increase in expenditure arises partly from the increase in the number of participants and partly from an increase in the allowance rates due to salary progression. Expenditure on this item is projected to continue to increase from a small base figure with new intakes and serving officers attaining eligibility for the allowance through salary progression.
| | |g. Air-conditioning Allowance
|166
|**49 |163 |**44 |163
(-1.8%) |**46 |19
(-88.3%) |**6 |Provision of Air-conditioning Allowance for civil servants and Independent Commission Against Corruption officers has been ceased with effect from 1.10.2006. The projected expenditure for 2007-08 is for the provision of the allowance for Judges and Judicial Officers.
| | |h. House Allowance, Furniture and Domestic Appliances Allowances
|15,585
|11 961 |15,100 |11 830 |16,500
(+5.9%) |12 830 |17,500
(+6.1%) |13 600 |The House Allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.10.1990. The Furniture and Domestic Appliances Allowances have been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.5.1999 (except officers directed to occupy post-tied quarters), and officers offered appointment before 1.5.1999 who are not occupying quarters and who receive a substantive salary on MPS 34 to 44 (or equivalent) on or after 1.7.2000. The increase in expenditure arises from the increase in the number of recipients. | | |i. Quartering | | | | | | | | | | | | (i) Hotel Subsistence Allowance8#
|0
|0 |16 |6 |17
(N.A.) |7 |18
(+5.9%) |7 |The allowance, as a fringe benefit, has been ceased on 1.10.2006. Expenditure on this allowance varies from year to year as the allowance is provided on a need basis.
| | | (ii) Housing Allowance for Disciplined Services
|25,214
|729 |39,041 |1 173 |24,911
(-1.2%) |803 |25,539
(+2.5%) |879 |The expenditure has been remaining at about the same level. | | | (iii) Provision of hotel accommodation #
|255
|11 |375 |30 |361
(+41.6%) |31 |360
(-0.3%) |26 |The provision of hotel accommodation, as a fringe benefit, has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.6.2000.
Expenditure on this item varies from year to year as the allowance is provided on a need basis.
| | | (iv) Removal Allowance
|26,518
|3 045 |11,655 |1 166 |5,339
(-79.9%) |528 |7,138
(+33.7%) |607 |Expenditure varies from year to year as the allowance is provided on a need basis.
Expenditure for 2007-08 is estimated to be higher than that of 2006-07 mainly because it is anticipated that some Non-Departmental Quarters (NDQ) occupants affected by the targeted disposal of NDQ in 2008 will move out of their quarters and claim removal allowance in 2007-08, and that the number of claimants who are beneficiaries of the Civil Service Public Housing Quota (Special Quota) will increase.
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | |III. |Passage Benefits
|198,238
| |247,686
| |219,166
(+10.6%) | |218,060
(-0.5%) | | | | |a. Leave Passage Allowance (including expenditure on Sea Passage)#
|54,780
|1 707 |63,622 |1 671 |63,815
(+16.5%) |1 691 |62,788
(-1.6%) |1 672 |The provision of Leave Passage Allowance, as a fringe benefit, has been reviewed and tightened up from 1.6.2000. For officers offered appointment on or after that date, the allowance is non-accountable and payable to the officers only and not their family members.
The slight decrease in the 2007-08 draft estimate is mainly due to a projected reduction in the number of recipients with the departure of some officers on overseas terms.
| | |b. School Passage Allowance
|134,592
|*6 806 |172,269 |*7 409 |149,717
(+11.2%) |*6 867 |151,645
(+1.3%) |*6 960 |The allowance has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.8.1996. The rates have been reduced and will remain frozen with effect from 1.9.2006.
The slight increase in the 2007-08 draft estimate is due to a projected increase in the number of officers claiming the allowance for their dependent children undertaking overseas education.
| | |c. Baggage Allowance#
|2,906
|**981 |3,527 |**1 123 |3,473
(+19.5%) |**898 |3,430
(-1.2%) |**897 |The allowance, as a fringe benefit, has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.1.1999, except for those provided with First Appointment Passage.
Actual expenditure varies from year to year depending on the cost of transportation of baggage up to the eligible officers’ entitlement.
| | |d. Travelling expenses
|5,960
|**12 156 |8,268 |**14 253 |2,161
(-63.7%) |**8 906 |197
(-90.9%) |**88 |The benefit, as a fringe benefit, has been ceased for officers offered appointment on or after 1.1.1999, except for those provided with First Appointment Passage. The allowance rates for travelling expenses in the country of origin or country of study have been frozen with no further rate adjustment. Travelling expenses in the country of study have been subsumed under the ceiling rates of School Passage Allowance (SPA) without separate provision with effect from 1.9.2006.
The significant decrease in the 2007-08 draft estimate is mainly due to subsuming the provision of travelling expenses under SPA effective from 1.9.2006.
| | |Total |3,795,638
| |3,895,801 | |3,471,903
(-8.5%) | |3,495,717
(+0.7%) | | | |
___________________
Footnotes :
Number of recipients marked with * means the number of students.
Number of recipients marked with ** means the number of claims.
Expenditure items marked with # include allowances payable to officers who are posted outside Hong Kong. Provision of the allowances to these officers arises from the officers’ external postings; they are not provided to the officers as fringe benefits.
7 The percentage change is a comparison of the 2006-07 revised estimate with the actual expenditure in 2005-06.
8 Recipients include family members of eligible officers.
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