Cap. 595 Art. 28Directives issued by the Principal Permanent Secretary in relation to agencies.        Cap. 601.

(1) Except in so far as expressly precluded by any order establishing an agency under this Act, the Principal Permanent

Secretary may, in addition to his powers under articles 4, 5 and 30, issue directives to any or all government agencies to:

(a) ensure that agencies coordinate their activities with other agencies, departments, government entities and Local Councils as applicable;

(b) put into effect measures to improve the performance of agencies and the quality of the services they deliver to the public;

(c) provide for matters relating to employment, including:

(i) the redeployment of staff to, from or between agencies; and

(ii) the application of the merit principle and the establishment of safeguards in relation thereto;

(d) establish mechanisms for staff classification and the determination of pay levels; and

(e) put into effect such other policy objectives and management priorities as the Government may from time to time set out.

(2) Chief Executive Officers and employees of government agencies shall comply with all applicable directives issued by the Principal Permanent Secretary, and failure to comply shall be grounds for disciplinary proceedings under any applicable procedures.

(3) The Principal Permanent Secretary shall seek to frame his directives in such a manner as to impose the least possible administrative burden on agencies consonant with the achievement of

Government objectives, bearing in mind any directives issued in virtue of article 77 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act.

(4) The provisions of article 15(3) to (5) shall apply mutatis to the directives issued by the Principal Permanent mutandis Secretary under this article.