ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to describe and evaluate the development of the human resource management function in a public sector organisation in Hong Kong. It takes the case of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA), a relatively new organisation undergoing extensive structural and cultural changes. Since it is a heavily labour-intensive organisation, the HA is aware that its human resource management (HRM) policies and procedures are crucial to the success of these changes. These policies and procedures are intended to achieve a decentralisation of the HRM function at the same time as an increase in its professionalism.
