The interest declaration systems for politically-appointed officials and Executive Council members are rigorous and the Government has no plan at present to revise them.
Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam told legislators today the Independent Review Committee for the Prevention & Handling of Potential Conflicts of Interests said in its 2012 report the systems are on the whole satisfactory.
The committee also studied the issue of handling the debts and liabilities of politically appointed officials and ExCo members.
Taking into account that officials and councillors are already required to disclose their debts and liabilities to the Chief Executive under the present system, and for privacy concerns, the committee did not consider it necessary to include additional requirements to declare debts and liabilities in the regular declarations of investments and interests.
Mr Tam said Basic Law Article 47 stipulates the Chief Executive, on assuming office, shall declare his assets to the Chief Justice and that this declaration shall be put on record, adding the Government has no plan to establish a separate system.
