A year after the reform was introduced, top officials and academics say better governance remains an elusive goal
Plagued by controversy and confusion, the ministerial system enters its second year tomorrow amid growing doubts about the chief executive's promise of a better government when he introduced the reform last July.
Many high-ranking officials, academics and political figures agree the so-called accountability system has been far from successful.
One former high-ranking official said it had been a complete failure. But another senior official maintained that the 'young accountability system' needed time to develop. He said it was now on the right track, citing the approach adopted in handling the Sars crisis in its later stages.
When he unveiled the initiative in his policy address on July 1 last year, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa Mr Tung said it would clearly delineate power and responsibility and improve policy-making and implementation. The government, he said, would be more receptive and open to public opinion.
The former official said the system had not been comprehensively planned, while corresponding changes were not made to the whole system. 'Mr Tung's ad hoc style will seriously undermine the whole system in the long-run.'
