In the People's Republic of China, science and technology policy is directed by the state and is an all encompassing managerial system through which courses of action are determined. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (Academia Sinica), a national comprehensive research center was established in 1949 to train qualified scientists and technicians. The China Science and Technology Developmental Plan was promulgated in 1956. By 1962, the major goals of the plan had been accomplished. A second ten-year plan followed. In 1978, the Communist Party gave new directions to the science and technology community, and in 1983, the government apparatus implemented the National Long-Term Plan for Science and Technology, 1986-2000. The objective of this plan is accomplishing the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology. The best way to describe the Chinese system for managing science and technology policy and its implementation is that it is a Chinese derivative of the 1950s Soviet managerial system. The State Council is at the top of the hierarchy followed by the Committee for Science and Technology of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, research institutions associated with the various ministries and committees, research and technology centers associated with the universities, and local research institutes. As an economically developing country, China must make hard choices as to resource allocations, especially personnel. Lack of trained, qualified personnel continues to be the biggest factor hampering development. Two charts and a 13-item bibliography are included. (JB)