Advisory Boards and Committees

The network of advisory boards and committees is a distinctive feature of
the system of government. It seeks to obtain, through consultation with
interested groups and individuals in the community, the best possible
advice on which to base decisions.

Advisory bodies give advice to the government through a policy secretary
or a head of department. They can broadly be divided into two categories:
statutory bodies (such as the Antiquities Advisory Board) and
non-statutory bodies (such as the Construction Advisory Board). Their
areas of activities are wide-ranging. Some deal with the interests of a
particular industry, others advise on a particular area of government
policy or public interest. Some of these bodies also carry out executive
functions, such as the Hospital Authority. There are also local committees
concerned with the affairs of particular areas and neighbourhoods, such
as District Fight Crime Committees.

Government officials and members of the public are represented on these
advisory boards and committees. Almost 4 000 members of the public
have been appointed to serve on a total of about 350 advisory boards and
committees, and some serve on more than one. These members are
appointed for their specialist knowledge or expertise, or for their record or
interest in contributing to community service. The government constantly
keeps in view the composition and operation of the advisory bodies to
ensure that they meet the needs of the community. Appropriate measures
have been introduced to enhance their transparency and representativness.

[Back] [Forward]