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POLI3035 Case Memo Sample 2

POLI3035 Case Memo Sample 5

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realarikadou
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15 views

POLI3035 Case Memo Sample 2

POLI3035 Case Memo Sample 5

Uploaded by

realarikadou
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction

This policy memo points out two issues in the political appointment system and raises
potential solutions.

Problem
Lack of Standardised Mechanism in Recruiting PAO
First, I argue that the limited standardisation in the recruitment of PAOs hinders the quality of
the appointees.

The current mechanism relies on a few political organizations to recommend candidates to


the appointment committee chaired by the Chief Executive.1 Following the government’s
direction to recruit diverse talents, we see PAOs with varying experience and abilities.
Without a transparent mechanism of selection, it is hard to ensure the quality of appointees. It
is also integral for the public to trust the PAOs who supposedly should be responsible to the
people.

The rapid advancement from political assistant to undersecretary also raised doubt about the
PAO recruitment mechanism. Regina Ip challenged the competence of political assistants to
take up roles of undersecretaries as they lack experience and vision for high-level policy-
making2, causing doubt among civil servants and the public.

Lack of Training for PAO


Second, I argue that the lack of training for PAO is detrimental to collaboration in the civil
service system.

There is no training system for PAOs. The past government office only ‘welcomed’ PAOs to
join training courses and occasionally organized talks on inner government operations.3 The
current government signed a training act with the National Academy of Governance in 2023,
yet does not include PAOs.4 These efforts are insufficient for PAOs to grasp a full picture of
the government. It is more worrying when only 4 out of 21 undersecretaries and political
assistants in the government now come from the civil servant system.5

PAOs might not 'share a common vision on policy issues' and lack a 'basis of trust' in
collaboration.6 Without proper and effective training, the policy bureaus will face difficulty in
collaboration. In 2017, Casper Tsui failed to answer facts of minimum wage when appointed
as the deputy secretary of the Labour and Welfare Bureau. This illustrates the potential
information gap in policy understanding which hinders collaboration.

Possible Solution
To complete the selection mechanism, the government can put clear selection criteria for
appointees. The Singapore ruling party appoints PAOs through rigorous selection. Apart from

1
HKSAR Government. (2019, March 27). LCQ2: Under Secretaries and Political Assistants. Government Information. Retrieved
from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201903/27/P2019032700442.htm?fontSize=1
2
Ip, R. (2019, November 6). 問責制 4 大問題是時候改革了 Regina Ip. Retrieved from http://reginaip.hk/regina/article/p/問責制 4 大問題
是時候改革了
3
Ibid, 1.
4
HKSAR Government. (2023, June 15). Civil servants training pact signed. Government News. Retrieved
from https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2023/06/20230615/20230615_184000_336.html
5
HKSAR Government. (2022, July 22). Appointment of Under Secretaries and Political Assistants (with photos). Government Information
Services. Retrieved from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202207/22/P2022072200389.htm?fontSize=1
6
LAM, W. F. (2005). Coordinating the government bureaucracy in Hong Kong: An institutional analysis. Governance, 18(4), 633-
654. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0491.2005.00295.
the exam-based mechanism, much emphasis is placed on performance in working with
grassroots communities.7 The government can learn by expanding the scope of scouting and
adopting clear standards for each position.

To provide sufficient training, the government can set clear guidelines for each policy bureau
on handover when there is a change of office. PAOs should also go through proper training
courses in bureaucracy and understanding the country.

References

HKSAR Government. (2019, March 27). LCQ2: Under Secretaries and Political Assistants.
Government Information. Retrieved
from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201903/27/P2019032700442.htm?fontSize=1

HKSAR Government. (2022, July 22). Appointment of Under Secretaries and Political
Assistants (with photos). Government Information Services. Retrieved
from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202207/22/P2022072200389.htm?fontSize=1

HKSAR Government. (2023, June 15). Civil servants training pact signed. Government
News. Retrieved
from https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2023/06/20230615/20230615_184000_336.html

Ip, R. (2019, November 6). 問責制 4 大問題是時候改革了 Regina Ip. Retrieved


from http://reginaip.hk/regina/article/p/問責制 4 大問題是時候改革了

LAM, W. F. (2005). Coordinating the government bureaucracy in Hong Kong: An


institutional analysis. Governance, 18(4), 633-654. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-
0491.2005.00295.

Wong, G. (2017, September 6). Why can’t Hong Kong foster political talent like Singapore?
South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-
opinion/article/2109807/if-singapore-can-groom-political-talent-good-governance-
why?campaign=2109807&module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article

7
Wong, G. (2017, September 6). Why can’t Hong Kong foster political talent like Singapore? South China Morning
Post. https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2109807/if-singapore-can-groom-political-talent-good-governance-
why?campaign=2109807&module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article

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