Fu-Lai Tony Yu and Diana S. Kwan,Social Construction of National Reality: Taiwan,Tibet, and Hong Kong

Journal of Chinese Political Science -     

Political context,policy networks and policy change: the complexity of transition in Hong Kong

Abstract

Central to the debates on the transition of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty is how this process has affected change in the policy process and policy outputs. Many see policy change as a result of the evolving political environment in Hong Kong following the political transition. This article, however, adopts the notion of policy networks and argues that the analysis of policy change cannot be reduced to a simple contextual stimulus – the policy alteration model. A case study – ‘the development of civic education’ – demonstrates the importance of policy networks, as a particular structure of government and group relations in decision making, in explaining the course of policy change. It is apparent that the relationship between regime change and political liberalization, on the one hand, and established networks, on the other, tends to be complex and dialectical in Hong Kong. Despite the importance of sovereignty transition and political restructuring, the effect of contextual factors on public policy greatly depends on the nature of the network involved.     

Thomas Fingar and Jean C. Oi,eds., Fateful Decisions: Choices That Will Shape China's Future

Journal of Chinese Political Science -     

Kharis Templeman,Yun-han Chu,and Larry Diamond,eds., Dynamics of Democracy in Taiwan: The Ma Ying-jeou Years

Journal of Chinese Political Science -     

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard and Kun-Chin Lin,eds., Governance,Domestic Change,and Social Policy in China: 100 Years After the Xinhai Revolution

Journal of Chinese Political Science -     

Reforming Social Services in Hong Kong: The Role of Contracting and Performance Management in the Non‐Profit Sector

Contracts and performance management, along with the concept of consumerism, have become the fundamental metaphors for New Public Management (NPM) and key changes in the public service. ‘Doing well while doing good’ and finding generally acceptable accountability measures for social services have become the perennial aspirations of planners, service providers and funders. This article examines the contingent factors and rationales behind the quality movement and recontracting exercise in reforming the delivery of personal social service programs in Hong Kong within the framework of New Public Management (NPM). It explains the use of long‐term relational contracts rather than the standard business contracts between the government as funder and non‐profit organisations as service providers. It also deals with the complex relationships among quality issues, quality standards, consumerism, accountability, performance indicators, and performance management.     

Szu-chien Hsu,Kellee S. Tsai,and Chun-chih Chang,eds., Evolutionary Governance in China: State-Society Relations under Authoritarianism

Journal of Chinese Political Science -