Strong executive, weak policy capacity: The changing environment of policy‐making in Hong Kong

Abstract

This article traces the institutional features and trajectory of policy‐making in Hong Kong from the pre‐1997 era of colonial rule, to explore why, despite the high degree of institutional continuity after 1997 and the inheritance of a strong executive‐led tradition from the former British administration, the new Special Administrative Region government has seen in practice the weakening of its policy capacity. Changes in the environment of policy‐making and the government's policy‐making structure are highlighted to account for the growing problems of policy incoherence. Policy capacity is found wanting in these aspects: political leadership and the role of the centre; a strategic framework and priorities; information and analysis; policy coordination structures and processes; policy‐budget coordination; policy implementation; and administrative culture.