HSUHK | CCCO

GEN1002 Public Policy and Administration in Hong Kong

Department
Social Science
Semester
AY2012/13 Sem 2, AY2013/14 Sem 1, AY2013/14 Sem 2, AY2014/15 Sem 1, AY2015/16 Sem 1, AY2016/17 Sem 2, AY2017/18 Sem 2, AY2018/19 Sem 2, AY2019/20 Summer Sem, AY2020/21 Sem 2, AY2020/21 Summer Sem, AY2021/22 Sem 2, AY2021/22 Summer Sem, AY2023/24 Sem 1, AY2024/25 Sem 2
Method
Lecture 3 hours
Cluster
2 (Social Sciences)

Prerequisite

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education 

Exclusion

PPE1005 Public Administration in the Global Perspectives

Module Description

This module introduces students to public policy and administration as an academic discipline as well as a field of practice in the context of Hong Kong. The module examines the changing contexts of public administration and policy and the key institutions and actors in the governance of the Hong Kong SAR under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”, such as the Political Appointment System, the policy making structures, the civil service and other public sector organizations. Concepts and problems of public administration, with an emphasis
on the development of public organizations, management of human resources, ethical practice, new public management, and oversight of governmental budgeting and finance, are closely examined from a social scientific approach. It also familiarises students with the major debates on public policy and administration as well as the knowledge of the Basic Law and National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to: 
a. examine various theoretical approaches of public administration and public policy
b. illustrate the core functions of public administration with regard to public personnel administration, financial management and budgeting, decision making and ethical issues;
c. analyse the key issues, institutions and processes involved in the governance of Hong Kong; and
d. evaluate major debates in the public administration of Hong Kong under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”.

Module Content

1. What is public administration?

1.1 Defining public administration
1.2 Public Administration as Social Science
1.3 Public administration: the context of Hong Kong SAR

2. Models of public administration

2.1 Traditional public administration models
2.2 New public management models and reinventing government in Hong Kong

3. Policymaking in Hong Kong

3.1 Agenda setting and decisionmaking process
3.2 Implementation
3.3 Evaluation

4. Aspects of public administration

4.1 Public personnel management and civil service
4.2 Public financial management and budgeting

5. Public administration under Hong Kong’s “One Country, Two Systems” principle

5.1 Basic Law and National SecurityLaw in Hong Kong
5.2 Government structure and the Political Appointment System

Assessment Methods

1. Assignment (20%)
2. Group presentation and discussion (20%)
3. Written project (30%)
4. Test (30%)

Texts & References

1. Burns, J. P. (2004). Government capacity and the Hong Kong civil service. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.
2. Cheung, A. B. (2021). Can Hong Kong exceptionalism last? Dilemmas of governance and public administration over five decades 1970s-2020. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.
3. Hughes, O. E. (2018). Public Management and Administration: an introduction (3rd ed.). Melbourne: Macmillan.
4. John, P. (2012). Analysing Public Policy (2nd ed.) Oxon: Routledge.
5. Knoepfel, P. et al. (2007). Public policy analysis (2nd ed.). Bristol: Policy Press.
6. Rosenbloom, D. H., & Robert S. K. (2008). Public administration: Understanding management, politics and law in the public sector (7th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
7. Scott, I. (2005). Public administration in Hong Kong: regime change and its impact on the public sector. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International.
8. Shafritz, J. M., Russell, E. W., & Borick, C. P. (2007). Introducing public administration (5th ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.