'A flower overwatered dies, a tree unattended thrives' is a proverb that is well-known in China. It means what was intended didn't turn out as it should while what happened was not what was expected. The same is true of government policies. Health authorities have been going all out to urge the public to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu and prevent the virus from spreading further. However, the public's response has been lukewarm, due mainly to the fact that the number of flu cases has been declining and more than 24 percent of the population has already been immunized. It is a paradox that the policy has failed because of its success. However, the Council for Cultural Affairs's planned policy to preserve historical sites is an example of the opposite being true. The designation of a building as a historical site by the council will oblige its owner to keep it intact. The owner will not be permitted to rebuild or replace it for personal reasons. Fearing loss of property value, many owners of graceful old buildings have beat the council to the punch by dismantling the structures before the council can designate them as historical sites. As a result, the council's historical site protection policy has succeeded in destroying historical sites rather than preserving them. It is an example how flawed means could destroy the goals of a good policy. This is a problem all policy makers should avoid. 