Publisher's Synopsis
In spite of the establishment of a reasonably effective system of public management in Hong Kong, a number of weaknesses have recently been exposed by a series of management crises in the public sector. The book examines the task of public services management with reference to these developments. It analyzes various aspects of administrative management and sheds light on both the origins of the problems and the efforts made by the government to deal with them. It indicates the nature and adequacy of preparations made before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty, examines the impact of some of the steps taken to manage crises in the public sector, and suggests ways of improving the system in the future. The conclusions highlight the importance of constant review and renewal of strategies and organizations for effective management of public services and the need to manage public interest, public confidence and information effectively. By employing recent cases, it clearly illustrates that there is room for improvement in the system of public management, particularly when dealing with unexpected situations. This study is the first of its kind in that there is not only very little published material on public service in Hong Kong, but also no previous critical analysis of its performance.
