The chief executive's policy team headed by former Legislative Council member Huang Yuen-shan was formally established today (28th).
In response to inquiries, a government spokesperson pointed out that the policy group of the Chief Executive will continue to use the resources of the previous "Policy Innovation and Coordination Office", and the establishment is similar to that of the Innovation Office and the previous Central Policy Group, with more than 40 employees.
As for whether all employees are "buried", or there are positions still waiting to be recruited, the government has not responded.
In addition to the team leader, the chief executive's policy team also has three deputy team leaders and several assistant team leaders, including civil servants and non-civil servants.
Their salaries and benefits are consistent with the arrangements of the Central Policy Group and the Innovation Office, that is, the leader of the chief executive's policy group is at the 8th point of the directorate salary scale, with a monthly salary of at least about 302,000 yuan.
The Innovation Office has set up 8 directorate positions and annually approves $44 million in research projects
Check the financial expenditure of the "Policy Innovation and Coordination Office", and it will exceed 140 million yuan in 2020-21. In addition to the director, there are 7 directorate managers, all of whom are civil servants; Directorate-level civil servants, as well as nearly 20 contract employees, approved more than 80 research projects within a year, involving an expenditure of more than 44 million yuan.
A government spokesman pointed out that the chief executive's policy team will also refer to the past experience of the central policy team and appoint people from different sectors of society as "special advisors" as needed to provide advice on different issues.
The chief executive will also set up an advisory group for the chief executive, inviting social leaders from different fields and people with extensive connections to participate, and the policy group will assist in organizing it.
Organize the Chief Executive Advisory Panel and appoint special advisors as needed
The policy team will implement the policy research funding scheme, and the team leader will be directly accountable to the Chief Executive.
The spokesperson reiterated that the policy team has four major areas of work, including advocating and assisting in the formulation of long-term and strategic policies from a far-sighted perspective; closely following the national development, including directions, plans and policies, analyzing and recommending key points for integration into the overall national development , take the initiative to participate in promotion and make contributions; examine international relations and situations, analyze opportunities and risks, so that the government can seize opportunities, create a favorable environment for development, and at the same time prevent risks; and grasp the public sentiments of Hong Kong, and understand the general direction and key points of public concern , and explore the factors that are conducive to social harmony and stability, and assist in decision-making direction and formulation of measures.
Chairman of the RGC Huang Yushan: I hope that the Chief Executive's Policy Group will help the government to better grasp the pulse of society. The Chief Executive's Policy Group was established on 12.28. To add value to the policy report︱The "Chief Executive Policy Group" has already selected a "red team" to assist the government in times of crisis.
