Hong Kong will tap overseas experience in a landmark review of the decade-old system of appointing advisers. Critics have claimed that existing rules favour the elite and that the advice passed to the authorities is not widely representative.
A study by a Legislative Council research unit of major democratic countries has highlighted the lack of guidelines in Hong Kong on the selection of advisers. It says appropriate guidelines would ensure all walks of life were represented on advisory bodies.
While committees are established by law for this purpose in many countries, this is not the case in Hong Kong, where Legco has far less say in the formation and monitoring of advisory bodies.
The study examined procedures in Britain, Ontario in Canada and New South Wales in Australia.
The announcement of the study results comes amid a major overhaul of the advisory system following the establishment of the ministerial system in July.
Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Stephen Fisher said there was a need to reconsider the functions and roles of the approximately 100 advisory bodies.