| LCQ16: Integrity checking of candidates for senior posts |
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Following is a question by Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, in the Legislative Council today (February 22):
Question: When the authorities engaged a person who was not a civil servant to take up the post of Financial Secretary in 2001, the public queried whether the integrity checking of the recruitment procedure had been completed prior to the appointment by the Central People's Government ("CPG"). In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council whether: (a) the integrity checking of candidates for principal official posts is the same as that for senior civil service posts; if not, of the differences and the reasons for such differences; and (b) measures are in place to ensure that the integrity checking of principal officials is completed prior to the appointment by the CPG? Reply: Madam President, Candidates for appointment to the posts of principal officials under the accountability system are subject to integrity checking on the same basis as those applicable to prospective senior civil servants. It is the established practise of the SAR Government to complete the integrity checking of principal officials prior to the appointment by the Central People’s Government. Ends/Wednesday, February 22, 2006 |