Book Reviews 123 true of many organizations. Who, internally or externally, is to be entrusted with the task of producing evaluation studies that are radical enough to justify the time and effort spent on them while gaining at the same time acceptability from the organization’s stake-holders? Some organizations sustain evaluation systems for reasons of respectability and to underpin the type of institutional structure they wish to preserve. Where these particular circum- stances prevail, is any independent assessment of organizational behaviour feasible? Other questions abound in these three reports, most of them specific to the particular aspect of evaluation examined. The overall study is stimulating, and provocative, supporting the assumption of the authors that ‘the conclusions of the survey and analysis provide a basis for systematic improvements in the way evaluation systems are organized and hopefully offer a source of theory and data for others to refine and build on’. ARTHUR LIVINGSTONE Professor Emeritus, University of Manchester THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE. PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PRACTICES Edited by Ian Scott and John P. Burns Oxford University Press, second impression, 1986, 338 pp, This volume adopts an open-system approach to the study of public sector personnel policies, and the opening chapters examine the social and political environment of personnel management in the Hong Kong civil service. The particular personnel topics which are then identified for description, analysis and review are: the legal framework; recruitment and selection; training; performance appraisal; job satisfaction; staff relations; public sector unions and pay determination. It is of interest to be told that the chapter on training replaces a chapter which had been submitted by two serving officers, but had to be withdrawn on the demand of the government of Hong Kong. It is a little disappointing to the reader that the background to this, perhaps important, personnel issue was not further explored. The contributors to the volume are associated with the postgraduate degree in Public Administration provided by the Political Science Department of the University of Hong Kong, and each chapter is well written and carefully, sometimes excessively, annotated. Thus the volume is a valuable text book for course participants on the M.Soc.Sc. degree programme. However it has perhaps a more limited appeal to a wider audience in that it lacks any comparative perspective, and has a relatively narrow and fairly standard subject focus. The editors point out that, at the time the volume was in preparation in 1983, these particular personnel topics were seen as critical areas for public personnel management in Hong Kong. But they also note that personnel issues are subject to what may be quite intense political and social pressures, and therefore they see the volume as a snapshot of a rapidly changing scene. Given the changes that have taken place in Hong Kong in the past four or five years, one is left wondering what changes would be made in both topic selection and treatment if a new edition of the volume were to be prepared. CHRIS DAVlES Development Administration Group, University of Birmingham PLANNING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE CHOICE AND APPRAISAL OF PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENTS. G. A. Bridger and J. T. Winpenny HMSO, London, 1987, 229 pp. The first three chapters of this book are notable as an exposition of concise common sense and pragmatism stemming from the authors’ extensive experience. Here is the alternative

The Hong Kong civil service. Personnel policies and practices edited by Ian Scott and John P. Burns Oxford University Press, second impression, 1986, 338 pp

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Page 1: The Hong Kong civil service. Personnel policies and practices edited by Ian Scott and John P. Burns Oxford University Press, second impression, 1986, 338 pp

Book Reviews 123

true of many organizations. Who, internally or externally, is to be entrusted with the task of producing evaluation studies that are radical enough to justify the time and effort spent on them while gaining at the same time acceptability from the organization’s stake-holders? Some organizations sustain evaluation systems for reasons of respectability and to underpin the type of institutional structure they wish to preserve. Where these particular circum- stances prevail, is any independent assessment of organizational behaviour feasible?

Other questions abound in these three reports, most of them specific to the particular aspect of evaluation examined. The overall study is stimulating, and provocative, supporting the assumption of the authors that ‘the conclusions of the survey and analysis provide a basis for systematic improvements in the way evaluation systems are organized and hopefully offer a source of theory and data for others to refine and build on’.

ARTHUR LIVINGSTONE Professor Emeritus,

University of Manchester

THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE. PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PRACTICES Edited by Ian Scott and John P. Burns Oxford University Press, second impression, 1986, 338 pp,

This volume adopts an open-system approach to the study of public sector personnel policies, and the opening chapters examine the social and political environment of personnel management in the Hong Kong civil service. The particular personnel topics which are then identified for description, analysis and review are: the legal framework; recruitment and selection; training; performance appraisal; job satisfaction; staff relations; public sector unions and pay determination. It is of interest to be told that the chapter on training replaces a chapter which had been submitted by two serving officers, but had to be withdrawn on the demand of the government of Hong Kong. It is a little disappointing to the reader that the background to this, perhaps important, personnel issue was not further explored. The contributors to the volume are associated with the postgraduate degree in Public Administration provided by the Political Science Department of the University of Hong Kong, and each chapter is well written and carefully, sometimes excessively, annotated. Thus the volume is a valuable text book for course participants on the M.Soc.Sc. degree programme. However it has perhaps a more limited appeal to a wider audience in that it lacks any comparative perspective, and has a relatively narrow and fairly standard subject focus.

The editors point out that, at the time the volume was in preparation in 1983, these particular personnel topics were seen as critical areas for public personnel management in Hong Kong. But they also note that personnel issues are subject to what may be quite intense political and social pressures, and therefore they see the volume as a snapshot of a rapidly changing scene. Given the changes that have taken place in Hong Kong in the past four or five years, one is left wondering what changes would be made in both topic selection and treatment if a new edition of the volume were to be prepared.

CHRIS DAVlES Development Administration Group,

University of Birmingham

PLANNING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE CHOICE AND APPRAISAL OF PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENTS. G. A. Bridger and J. T. Winpenny HMSO, London, 1987, 229 pp.

The first three chapters of this book are notable as an exposition of concise common sense and pragmatism stemming from the authors’ extensive experience. Here is the alternative