The Changing Nature of Public Administration in Hong Kong: Past, Present, Future

Hong Kong has undergone significant changes in the last two decades, and their impacts have been visible on the economic and political aspects of life. As the territory became prosperous, political system reforms had to be introduced in order to keep pace with the changes in society. At the same time, it was necessary to introduce changes in the public administration system. Hong Kong's scheduled reversal of sovereignty to China has added to the scenario's complexity, as the transformation from a British colony to a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China entails delicate balance in planning reforms. This paper considers the administrative reform attempts made in Hong Kong. Beginning with the 1989 public sector reform document, there have been a number of noticeable changes in public administration process and values. An examination of previous and recent attempts indicates that changes have been largely influenced by political considerations and the tendency to emulate practices from elsewhere, while the genuine needs of society may have been neglected. There have been corresponding changes in the objectives, strategies, and style adopted by the government and public administrators. This paper will try to note the nature of the recent changes within Hong Kong's public administration, changes which will naturally have implications on the relationship of Hong Kong with its neighbors, including the Republic of China.