HONG-KONG - ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM AND RECENT PUBLIC-SECTOR CHANGES - THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF NEW VALUES

Public sector management in Hong Kong is facing major challenges as th e territory has undergone substantial changes in the past four decades . A small government, following a policy of nonintervention in a colon ial setting, has resulted in a highly structured system whereby it is more convenient to plan and coordinate administrative activities. This centralised structure and the prevailing role culture have combined t o facilitate the implementation and institutionalisation of changes in the public service. Considering she experience and activities of sele cted government departments, it appears that there is a move toward mo re accountability and a consumer-oriented approach to public sector ma nagement in Hong Kong. The new initiatives appear to be consistent wit h the needs and mood of the society and seem likely to persist in the future, despite an element of uncertainty stemming from the reversal o f sovereignty to the People's Republic of China.