They may have to exercise the powers of policy chiefs when their ministers are away, but unlike their bosses the government's nine undersecretaries do not have to declare their interests to the legislature.
That should change, says the Democratic Party. It wants a standardised reporting mechanism for all political appointees to ensure transparency.
'Why does the government send us the full report of the ministers' declarations while the undersecretaries and political assistants don't have to?' asked party vice-chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing. 'They should have the same requirement.'
Government ministers, along with non-official Executive Council members, update their declarations of interest forms on the government website at regular intervals, detailing the properties they and their spouses own and company directorships held.
The reports are sent to the legislature for lawmakers' reference each year, with the records kept in the Legco website for public reference.
But the nine undersecretaries and nine political assistants make their own declarations to their respective ministers and the information is treated as data for 'public inspection' only.