Review of Remunerations of Senior Executives of Government-funded Bodies Under the Purview of Home Affairs Bureau for 2003-04

The Secretary for Home Affairs has accepted the reports submitted by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the four performing groups subvented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department during the review period, namely, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Dance Company, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. Major findings of the reviews of these organizations are set out below.

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

During the review period, the senior executive posts comprised the Chief Executive and three Directors. The average total remuneration of each of these top two tiers of executive staff was no higher than the annual average of the comparable ranks in the civil service and is therefore in order.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

During the review period, the senior executive posts at the top three tiers comprised the Director, five Deans, two Associate Directors, an Associate Dean and a Bursar. There was no major change to the number and ranking of the posts under review except that an Associate Dean post was deleted. The average total remuneration of the second tier was on par with that of the comparable rank in the civil service and in order. The annual average total staff cost of the first and third tiers each slightly exceeded that of comparable rank in the civil service. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts had been required to rectify the situation through adjustment to staff salary upon contract renewal. As the difference was mainly attributable to a reduction in staff on cost in the civil service salary calculations, the Academy was not required to return the excess with non-subvention money.

Performing Groups Subvented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department

During the subject period, there was no change to the number and ranking of the senior executive posts of the four performing groups during the period under review. The only senior executive post at three of the groups, namely, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Dance Company and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre was that of the Executive Director. The annual staff cost of the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Dance Company and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre was respectively on par with that of the comparable rank in the civil service. For the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, the senior executive posts comprised the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive. The annual pay package of the Deputy Chief Executive was no higher than that of the comparable rank in the civil service whilst the annual staff cost of the Chief Executive had exceeded that of the civil service at the comparable rank by about $7,000. The Society had since rectified the anomaly in the pay package of their new Chief Executive.