'Super bureau' could transform into a monster, say critics

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's plan to have only one bureau to oversee health, welfare and environment and food safety has been criticised by lawmakers, who say placing so much work under one body does not make sense.

Under the new accountability system to be announced next week, Mr Tung has decided to merge the Health and Welfare Bureau, now headed by Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, and the Environment and Food Bureau led by Lily Yam Kwan Pui-ying, who announced on Wednesday that she will retire at the end of June.

Critics fear the new 'super' bureau will become a monster with too much power.

The new bureau is expected to take up $80 billion, or 31 per cent, of total government spending this financial year. Its policy on health care will also dictate the direction of the Hospital Authority, which alone runs a $29 billion budget. The authority is run by its own board.

Dr Yeoh is tipped to be the minister to head the new body, which will supervise five government departments - the Department of Health, the Social Welfare Department, the Environmental Protection Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

The merging of the two bureaus contradicts government reforms in January 2000 which separated food safety duties from the Department of Health.