Governance Structure The Chief Executive is the head of the HKSAR. He decides on government policies, and issues executive orders. You can visit the government websites to find out more about the structure and functions of the three Principal Officials, twelve bureaux and other government departments. In addition, the online government telephone directory is also available for general public enquiries.
The Executive Council assists the Chief Executive in policy-making. There is also the Legislative Council, which enacts laws; examines and approves budgets, taxation and public expenditure; and monitors the work of the government. The Legislative Council performs the above functions through a system of committees. In addition, the Legislative Council normally meets every Wednesday to conduct its business while in session. All meetings of the Legislative Council and most of its committee meetings are open to the public. You can also refer to the "Voice Broadcast" system on the Legislative Council homepage to listen to open meetings of the Council and its committees online. Meanwhile, there are 18 District Councils to advise the government on district matters, reflect public opinions, promote community building and monitor the delivery of public services at the district level.
Government Papers If you wish to find out the overall direction of the government’s policies, simply take a look at the annual Policy Address of the Chief Executive and the Budget of the Financial Secretary. These will give you a better understanding of the policy initiatives, estimates and forth-coming financial plans. Before major policies are implemented, the government will publish relevant information in consultation papers to invite public comments and suggestions. You can also find the most recent annual accounts of the government, including the accrual-based consolidated financial statements. You can also put up a request to government bureaux or departments for access to information under the Code on Access to Information.
