Govt operation unhindered after revamp: Ip Kwok-him

The operation of the SAR government will be unhindered as 13 government bureaus will be restructured to become 15, said executive councilor Ip Kwok-him.  

His comments came as chief executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu announced his revamp plan yesterday. Apart from the restructure, deputies are to be appointed to the chief secretary for administration, the financial secretary, and the secretary for justice.  

The restructured administration will also bring in 13 more politically appointed officials, including the three deputies, and 57 more civil service positions for an additional annual cost of almost HK$95 million.  

Despite the increase in government expenditure, Ip said the restructuring will be worth the penny as the bureaus will now be able to focus and delicately do their work while also making their powers and responsibilities clearer.  

He said some bureaus carrying a relatively heavier workload than the others have been a long-standing problem since the Leung Chun-ying administration.  

Ip also noted that any revamp plan put forward by Leung’s administration at that time had been thwarted by the opposition camp.  

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