A new Hong Kong regulation, which aims to empower the Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct Tier II investigations under a two-tier probing mechanism, will be gazetted on Friday.

The Public Service Commission (Investigation) Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on May 27. Subject to legislative approval, it will take effect on July 17, the government said in a statement.

In his 2025 Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the establishment of the Heads of Department Accountability System. It aims to strengthen departmental execution capacity and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the departments' work by clearly spelling out and institutionalizing that Heads of Departments have to be accountable for their departments' work.

The CE also announced the introduction of the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism, which will enhance the credibility of the investigation process and results.

A Tier II investigation will be triggered by serious, widespread, repetitive or systemic government problems, or if a head of department or permanent secretary is implicated.

The investigation will target the problem identified and cover all involved personnel, regardless of rank.

Besides defining the conditions for government referral to the PSC and mandating that the commission investigate these cases, the regulation also regulates the formation, powers and proceedings of the investigation team, which must submit a final report to the government.

"Under the leadership of the chief executive, we have established a result-oriented government. At the same time, we have been fostering a culture within the civil service characterized by proactiveness, responsibility, loyalty and dedication," a spokesperson for the Civil Service Bureau said on Wednesday.

The Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism aims to investigate into the causes of the problem and identify the parties to be responsible for the problem should a problem arise in any area of government work, said the spokesman.

“The PSC is an independent statutory advisory body comprising members with diverse professional backgrounds; entrusting it with the conduct of the Tier II investigations would enhance the credibility of the investigations,” the spokesman added.