The Administration will give an account of the outcome of  disciplinary proceedings surrounding Harbour Fest to Legislative Councillors after the appeal has closed, Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue says.

She told lawmakers the disciplinary proceedings began on September 28, 2004, and ended on October 3, 2005. During the proceedings, the inquiry committee's hearing stretched over 12 half-day sessions.

When notified of the Secretary for the Civil Service's decisions on the proceedings' outcome, the officer concerned appealed to the Chief Executive under section 20 of the Public Service (Administration) Order against the decisions.

The appeal is still being dealt with, she said.

Miss Yue said in the three years ending March 2006, the Government ruled on a total of 874 disciplinary cases.

Of these cases, 35 appeals were lodged with the Chief Executive. Over the last three years, it took the Administration two to three months on average to process an appeal.

She said the Administration has laid down internal administrative guidelines on the timeframe for dealing with appeals.

Replies expected within two weeks in simple cases

In general, the guidelines state that for non-statutory appeals to the Chief Executive, the Administration should give a reply within two weeks in simple cases, or four weeks in more complicated cases.

Where the case is extremely complicated, the Administration should furnish an interim reply within the above timeframe and give a substantive reply as soon as possible.

As far as practicable, the Administration has endeavoured to provide replies within the specified timeframe, she said.