Public administration in Hong Kong: crisis and prospects
- 16(9), Sep 93, p.1397-1430
Current studies on Hong Kong public administration have overlooked three emerging crises of the administrative system, the crisis of mediocrity, the public service, and the metapolicy, which may result in a complete collapse of the colonial regime. The analysis reveals the following. Firstly, operating within a paradoxical context, civil servants find it difficult to maximize their contribution Hard pressed by the delimma of "to strive for excellence or to observe medicoirty", many choose the latter. Thus, the overall performance of Hong Kong public agencies and civil servants is unacceptable. Secondly, at the absence of a political theory which redefines the relationship between the political system and so