Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying has promised to visit all the city's 18 districts at least once a year when he takes office, and also vowed his ministers will be more visible and accountable too.
Responding to demands for a review of the ministerial system, which were raised again in a Legislative Council public hearing yesterday on his proposals to restructure the government, Leung promised a midterm evaluation of ministers to increase public scrutiny of top officials.
Critics, however, said Leung's district visits could be merely cosmetic, and could subject the administration to conflicting demands from different districts.
In a document sent to the Legislative Council, Leung (pictured) promised a midterm review of the so-called accountability system established in 2002. 'The political appointment system has been implemented for almost 10 years but its effectiveness in improving governance is less than desirable,' Leung wrote.
Social scientist Dr Chung Kim-wah said Leung's pledge to visit all 18 districts at least once a year, the first such promise by any chief executive, was unlikely to bring real policy changes.
'A visit by the chief executive would raise residents' expectations more than one by a minister or councillor. But the chief executive cannot make two sets of housing policies, one for Kwai Tsing and one for Sham Shui-po,' Chung said. 'Most likely the main functions of these visits will be to give ministers a better idea of their popularity.'
