Cash incentives for policy research
A think-tank offers $30,000 grants to encourage studies
A private think-tank has offered sponsorship of $30,000 each to a series of policy research projects up to 2007, the first its kind by such a group in Hong Kong.
Led by professionals and academics, SynergyNet is inviting studies in eight areas, including health finance, privatisation of public assets, class mobility and tax reform.
Chairman Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said they had recently decided to expand the range of policy-related activities.
Announcing the 'Thinking about 2007' series, Professor Cheung said the new venture was an agenda-setting process in the run-up to the election for the next chief executive.
'Irrespective of the method used for the election, the 2007 election should provide an opportunity for extensive policy reflections and debates,' he said.
Each successful applicant will be given $30,000 to cover basic research expenses. SynergyNet hopes to sponsor three or four studies a year.
'We are not ambitious. The money is really just some sort of encouragement. We expect the fund can only cover the cost of a part-time assistant to help the researcher,' Professor Cheung said.
The sponsorship proposals had received a favourable response, said the professor, who left the Democratic Party last year to focus on his think-tank position.
While the Civic Exchange think-tank also carries out joint studies with academics, Professor Cheung said SynergyNet's funding for a research series was the first of its kind in Hong Kong.
The other topics in the eight policy areas are the social security system, housing reform, university education and economic strategies.
SynergyNet also plans to play a more active role in responding to government policy consultations, initiating policy submissions and fostering closer ties with its counterparts on the mainland, in Taiwan and overseas.
Professor Cheung said it would initiate community-level outreach activities with district councillors and local organisations.
While he welcomed the government plan to commit $20 million for the Research Grants Council to improve policy studies, he said doubts remained over how individual academics could take advantage of the scheme.
