# Administrative Officer (Hong Kong)

The Administrative Officer (AO) (Chinese: 政務主任) is a high-ranking civil service grade in the Government of Hong Kong. The AOs are cadres of multi-skilled professional administrators who play key roles in the government agencies. The AOs are posted around a wide variety of posts in the Government Secretariat, bureaux and departments at regular intervals. The AOs assist in formulating government policies closely related to society, as well as managing and monitoring the uses of public resources in the bureaux. In addition, the AOs provide good management and supervise relevant departments for providing services to the public. Furthermore, the AOs serving in the District Offices are responsible for supervising and coordinating the provision of government services and facilities by relevant agencies in the districts, serving as frontline representatives for the government, and monitoring community development plans.

## Grade structure

| Principal official | Principal official | Principal official | Principal official | Principal official | Principal official | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | Permanent Secretary | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Department Director | Department Director | Department Director | Department Director | Department Director | Department Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | AO Staff Grade A1 (D8) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) |
| | | | | | | | | | | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | AO Staff Grade A (D6) | | | | | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | | | | | | | | | | | |
| AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | | | | | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | | | | | | | | | | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | Deputy Secretary | | | | | | | | | | | |
| AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | AO Staff Grade B1 (D4) | | | | | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | Deputy Director | | | | | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | | | | | | | | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) | AO Staff Grade B (D3) |
| Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | | | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer |
| Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Principal Assistant Secretary | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | Assistant Director | | | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | District Officer | | | | | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | | | | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | | | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) | AO Staff Grade C (D2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | | | | Senior Administrative Officer Administrative Officer | Senior Administrative Officer Administrative Officer | Senior Administrative Officer Administrative Officer | Senior Administrative Officer Administrative Officer | Senior Administrative Officer Administrative Officer | Senior Administrative Officer Administrative Officer | | | Assistant District Officer | Assistant District Officer | Assistant District Officer | Assistant District Officer | Assistant District Officer | Assistant District Officer |

## Ranks and Pay scales

| Level | Positions in English | Positions in Chinese |
| Directorate Pay Scale Point 8 (D8) | Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 (Permanent Secretary of Bureau) | 首長級甲一級政務官（決策局常任秘書長） |
| Directorate Pay Scale Point 6 (D6) | Administrative Officer Staff Grade A (Head of Department) | 首長級甲級政務官（部門首長） |
| Directorate Pay Scale Point 4 (D4) | Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 (Deputy Secretary of Bureau) | 首長級乙一級政務官（決策局副秘書長） |
| Directorate Pay Scale Point 3 (D3) | Administrative Officer Staff Grade B (Deputy Secretary of Bureau, deputy director of Department) | 首長級乙級政務官（決策局副秘書長、部門副署/處長） |
| Directorate Pay Scale Point 2 (D2) | Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (Principal Assistant Secretary of Bureau, assistant director of department, District Officer) | 首長級丙級政務官（決策局首席助理秘書長、部門助理署/處長、民政事務專員） |
| Master Pay Scale Point 45 to 49 | Senior Administrative Officer (Assistant Secretary of Bureau, Assistant District Officer) | 高級政務主任（決策局助理秘書長、民政事務助理專員） |
| Master Pay Scale Point 27 to 44 | Administrative Officer (Assistant Secretary of Bureau, Assistant District Officer) | 政務主任（決策局助理秘書長、民政事務助理專員） |

## Entry requirements

* A bachelor's degree with first or second class honours from any university in Hong Kong, or equivalent;
** A bachelor's degree or above from any university in Hong Kong, or possess equivalent academic qualifications, and their overall academic qualifications must be similar to the entry requirements listed in (1);
* A passing grade in the aptitude test paper of the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE);
* Meeting the language proficiency requirements, that is, obtain "Level 2" scores in the two language papers (Use of Chinese and Use of English) in the CRE, or equivalent;
* A passing score in the "Basic Law and Hong Kong national security law" test (degree/professional level grade);
* Candidates must have permanent residency in Hong Kong.
* Applicants will also be required to pass the Joint Recruitment Examination (JRE).