Policy Address 2004

60. In the months ahead, we will focus on improving our policy making capabilities, in particular the quality of policies. The aim is to rationalise our decision making process and ensure that policies are implemented effectively. We will involve people from different sectors to participate in the policy making process.

61. To improve our governance, we must raise the level of sophistication with which both the Government and the community handle policy issues. We need to do more public policy research, particularly from a macro and long-term perspective. Objective and concrete public policy research will help us better realise the objectives of effective governance. It will help us avoid sweeping, politicised and emotional policy debates, thus making it easier for the Government and various sectors of the community to reach a consensus on public issues. This will ensure that our policies are implemented more effectively and better able to serve the long-term development needs of Hong Kong.

62. At present, public policy research is not being pursued vigorously within the Government and in the community, and there are not enough experts in this area. To enhance the effectiveness of our governance on a long-term basis, the Central Policy Unit will in the coming year explore ways to promote public policy research and develop the human resources required. We will actively discuss the way forward with the community.

63. In striving to enhance our policy making capabilities, we are determined to involve different sectors of the community in the policy making process. We will take steps to better gauge the general mood of the people and strengthen our advisory and statutory bodies.