- Introduce the key concepts and core issues in public budgeting and financial management;
- Detect the problems and shortfalls of traditional budgeting and the objectives of budgeting and financial management reforms;
- Evaluate current trends in budgetary and financial management reforms, both locally and internationally;
- Understand key issues in the public budgeting and financial management in Hong Kong with a view to critically assessing them with the techniques introduced in this class. 

Note: The assignment enables a student to demonstrate the degree of understanding of the subject matter, analytical and presentational skills, and the ability to put issues into relevant perspectives. The group project enables students, as a team, to demonstrate the depth and breadth of knowledge of a practical problem, and how that problem can be tackled with reference to the conceptual notions of public budgeting and financial resources and some 'real world' issues, in addition to the insight and lessons that can be drawn from the global trends. The project report also tests the organizational, analytical and presentation skills of students.