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ISBN: 978-988-18693-8-8
Paperback, 116 pages
Size: 14.8 x 21 cm
Published: Nov 3rd, 2009

Price: HK$120 / US$15.50

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In the depths of the 2003 SARS crisis, Mike Rowse (盧維思), a career Hong Kong civil servant, was handed the poisoned chalice of HarbourFest – intended to be (and which in many ways was) a psychological and commercial shot in the arm. Politics, as it often does, took precedence over sense, and Rowse was scapegoated for the perceived failings of this attempt to pull off a world-class entertainment festival in only three months. Rowse endured disciplinary hearings and ended up taking the Hong Kong Government to court. He won.

This True Story of HarbourFest is not just an insider’s account of the workings of the Hong Kong Government; it is also a thoughtful treatise on the drawbacks of the Ministerial Accountability System, a system which failed HarbourFest and Rowse, there being No Minister who ever took responsibility.

Available from November 3rd in all good Hong Kong bookshops. Or order online securely with any credit or debit card, or with Paypal, by clicking the button on the left. For other methods of payment, see here.

MEDIA ATTENTION

Mike Rowse will be appearing on Michael Chugani’s Newsline programme on November 1st 2009; on RTHK Radio 3 on the 2nd; and will be speaking at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club on the 3rd.

投資推廣署前署長盧維思的新書將於明日發行，他將於書中大爆2003年遭多方批評的「維港巨星匯」的來龍去脈。他強調，新書不是要攻擊任何人，包括時任工商及科技局長、現任政務司長唐英年；而他早已按照公務員事務局在5月向他發出的指引寫書，但認為近日政府向他發出新的「出書指引」，的確會予人政府想叫停他出書的印象。
盧維思的No Minister & No, Minister明日面世，他日前接受亞視節目Newsline訪問時說，今年5月政府已給他有關退休公務員如要出書的規定，他已遵守所有規定撰寫，但他近日突然再收到政府的新規定，認為這些規定或會令他的書不見天日。 被問政府是否想禁止他出書？盧維思說﹕「按理是沒有，但我真是不想評論，因為我仍然相信理智會取勝，但他們（政府）遲遲才附加新規定，的確會有這個效果。」他又笑言，若這本書被列為禁書，其銷量將會由500本激增至5000本。— Ming Pao

Rowse to tell all in book about Harbour Fest fiasco: A retired top government official – heavily criticized over the Harbour Fest fiasco – will give his side of the story by publishing an alternative view of the issues surrounding the ill-fated concerts. — The Standard

人稱「米老鼠」嘅前投資推廣署署長盧維思（Mike Rowse）去年底退休，離開官場去咗科大做 MBA課程顧問，喺清水灣青山綠水之中逍遙咗成年，米老鼠下周二終於出關，去香港外國記者會演講，講吓對所謂部長制嘅政治任命局長、副局長嘅睇法。 演講實情只係配菜，主菜乃係佢潛心力作，大爆當年維港巨星匯內幕嘅新書，新書名為"No Minister & No, Minister"，有個副題 "The True Story of HarbourFest"，顧名思義，米老鼠有大鑊要爆，當年佢已經揭開唐英年想刪除會議紀錄，意圖卸責嘅內幕，此書一出，準備埋位選特首嘅唐公子要搵定擋箭牌嘞 — Apple Daily