The Civil Service in Hong Kong: Continuity and Change

200 Pages·1998·14.442 MB·English

by  Ahmed Huque

THE CIVIL SE
D SHAFIQU1 HUQUE
GRACE O.M. LE
UL CHEUNG
THE CIVIL SERVICE IN HONG KONG
CONTMfflAlCMGE
To:
R. Stephen Milne and Paul G. Thomas
— Ahmed Shafiqul Huque
Raymond and Angela Lee
John, Jane and Edward Chau
— Grace O.M. Lee
Evelyn and Bik San
— Anthony B.L. Cheung
THE ( M, SERVICE I HONG KONG
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CHANGE
AHMED SHAFIQUL HUQUE
GRACE O.M. LEE
ANTHONY B.L. CHEUNG
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HONG KONG UNIVERSITY PRESS
Hong Kong University Press
14/F Hing Wai Centre
7 Tin Wan Praya Road
Aberdeen, Hong Kong
© Hong Kong University Press 1998
ISBN 962 209 458 9
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording,
or any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
The authors are grateful to the Contemporary China
Research Centre, City University of Hong Kong,
for its support to the project.
Printed in Hong Kong by Liang Yu Printing Co. Ltd.
CONTENTS
Preface vii
Abbreviations ix
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Chapter 2 The Civil Service in Perspective 15
Chapter 3 The Challenge of Transition 27
Chapter 4 Preparing for Change 55
Chapter 5 Managing Succession 83
Chapter 6 Managing and Rewarding Performance 97
Chapter 7 Managing the Public Sector 125
Chapter 8 The Future Role of the Senior Civil Service 141
Chapter 9 Continuity and Change 159
Appendix A 171
Appendix B 173
Bibliography 177
Index 185

PREFACE
The civil service has consistently played a vital role in the administration,
development and continued success of Hong Kong as a trading and commercial
centre, as a socially and politically stable community, and as a fully modern
society. The creation of an effective instrument of administration and its
development over the years into one of the most efficient and best managed
public bureaucracies make its study a worthwhile exercise. Over the years, the
Hong Kong civil service has been exposed to challenges emanating from the
rapidly changing environment in which it has to operate. Immediately after
the reintegration of Hong Kong with China, new problems and issues have
emerged, and the civil service is expected to deal with them under the changed
circumstances. This study intends to provide a comprehensive overview of the
organization, problems, issues and prospects of the civil service in Hong Kong
at this watershed in its and Hong Kong's development. The objective is to
examine the origin and development of the civil service, its efforts to deal
with changes before and after the reintegration, its changing role and
responsibilities, and its responses to new approaches to managing the public
services.
There is a dearth of studies on the civil service in Hong Kong. Although
it is possible to obtain a general picture of this institution by drawing upon
government documents and other studies, there is a need to examine this
institution within the framework of a comprehensive study. This book seeks to
provide a basic analysis of the civil service in Hong Kong along with a more
detailed discussion of the crucial tasks and issues confronting the institution.
It is also useful to look ahead into the future role of the civil service after
considering the accomplishments to date.
This book reflects the results of collaboration among three authors.
Anthony B.L. Cheung authors three chapters: 'The Challenge of Transition',
'Managing and Rewarding Performance' and 'The Future Role of the Senior
Civil Service'. Grace O.M. Lee and Ahmed Shafiqul Huque co-author the rest.
While all efforts have been made to ensure consistency of views and unanimity
of judgement, there is still scope for diversity of opinion. We believe such
diversity of ideas and opinions helps to enrich the analysis.
The authors would like to register their deepest regard and heartfelt thanks
viii The Civil Service in Hong Kong: Continuity and Change
to Professor Paul Wilding of the University of Manchester and the City
University of Hong Kong. He had been a constant source of inspiration and
criticism that spurred on the authors to the end. Professor Wilding's
contribution to the completion of this book is invaluable.
The authors have drawn upon the scholarship and interpretations of
numerous contributors to the study of the civil service. However, we remain,
as usual, responsible for any omission and shortcoming of this study.
Ahmed Shafiqul Huque
Grace O.M. Lee
Anthony B.L. Cheung
ABBREVIATIONS
BDTC British Dependent Territory Citizen
CSTC Civil Service Training Centre
CSTDI Civil Service Training and Development Institute
DMC District Management Committee
DPS Directorate Pay Scale
HMOCS Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service
HRM human resources management
JPO junior police officer
MPS Master Pay Scale
NPM New Public Management
PWC Preliminary Working Committee
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
SAR Special Administrative Region
SCMP South China Morning Post
SSC Senior Staff Course
SSCC Senior Staff Course Centre
TDC Trade Development Council