Policy Memo Uncertainties over the new Greater Bay Area development plan’s impact on innovation and technology development in Hong Kong
Topic:
Advise the Hong Kong Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau on policy alternatives and paths to reduce uncertainties around the GBA project and maximise its positive impacts on Hong Kong.
You have two options for your policy memo:
- Advise on Alternative Policies: Identify key challenges and propose overlooked policy alternatives that could enhance the GBA project's impact on Hong Kong's innovation and technology sector.
- Analyse Existing/Proposed Measures: Provide a detailed analysis of the effectiveness and execution of existing or proposed measures related to the GBA project. You can target just one or two specific areas identified in your background section. In this case you can skip the policy alternatives section and provide your final recommendation.
Briefing: Brief_Memo-3_GBA_Hong_Kong.pdf
**Recent policy developments are crucial for your analysis. Refer to the latest documents and make sure you are up to date with the latest initiatives, such as technological collaborations, recent policy address, financial incentives for tech startups, or new cross-border digital infrastructure projects within the GBA.**
Format:
Your policy memo should be between 750-850 words in length.
Use clear, concise language appropriate for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and the Legislative Council.
Include proper citations and a bibliography (not included in the word count).
Incorporate relevant examples and case studies from the briefing and other sources
Basic Memo structure consists of the following sections:
Background/problem definition
Issue analysis
Policy options (with pros and cons)
Strategic recommendations
Additional work
Limitations:
1. Header (to, from, date, subject)
2. Executive summary (~100 words)
3. Background and Issue analysis (~150 words)
4. Policy options (with pros and cons) (~200 words)
5. Strategic recommendations (~150 words)
6. Limitations and barriers (~100 words)
7. Conclusion (~100 words)
Keep in mind:
- Policy Memo serves as a concise analysis of the issue with brief recommendations of what policy actions should (or should not) be taken for the desired outcome
- Conduct additional research on the topic to support your analysis and recommendations.
- Please, propose specific, actionable, and evidence-based policy recommendations to address the identified challenges and capitalise on the identified opportunities.
- It is valuable to see that you accompany your analysis and recommendations with relevant evidence, such as data, grapgics, links, references, etc.
- The language of the memo should be professional but approachable as it targets practitioners, not academics. Therefore, if you use specific public policy terms, concepts, or frameworks, you have to make sure that your audience does not have to look them up or read additional materials in order to understand what your Memo is trying to convey.
Memo rubric:
Specifically, your memo will be graded in the following five aspects:
1. Clarity of writing -with appropiate language and grammar, so that the readears can follow your argument-.
2. Persuasiveness in argumentation.
3. Analytical rigor -clearly presented options, recommendations, and limitations, well supported arguments by the use e of evidence and comprehensiveness-.
4. Demonstration of understanding of relevant materials (concepts, theories, and tools) covered in the class.
5. Proper references and citations
Resources for writing memos:
Memo Guide Material