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The resource stress caused by the rapidly increasing number of women from the Mainland entering Hong Kong for the sole purpose of giving birth has become one of the foci of the mounting intergroup conflicts between Hong Kong residents and Mainland visitors. Taking the perspective of intergroup competition for resources, this paper discusses how the contradictory directions of government policies and the inappropriate responses of the SAR government have intensified intergroup conflicts. With the exclusive population policies of Hong Kong and Mainland China, children born in Hong Kong to Mainland parents and their families are in an ambivalent and difficult situation. Ways to relieve their difficulties and alleviate intergroup conflicts are proposed at the end of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the approaches to learning that were used in a liberal arts course titled “Music, Society, and Culture” in a general education program in a Hong Kong higher education setting. The study aimed to examine the ways in which liberal arts education can be realized from two perspectives: (i) Chinese university students’ perceptions of their group activities in music and the creative arts and (ii) the possible challenges to realizing creativity and cultural and social awareness in education practices. The findings were based on a simple survey questionnaire administered to elicit information on the students’ backgrounds and the creative music and arts projects they carried out in the classroom. The results of the study suggest that in higher education there is potential value in viewing creativity and social and cultural awareness as issues or themes to be considered in curricula that could have an impact on students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the impact of integration with Mainland China on Hong Kong's social development and proposes a class-based argument against the prevailing ethnicity-based argument to explain the problems of social development arising from integration. It argues that a certain class across the boundary has benefited greatly from the economic integration while leaving all the negative externalities unattended. This paper raises a policy question of how to establish a crossboundary redistribution mechanism to deal with this new transboundary class issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper systematically examines suicide-related information on Hong Kong websites based on a review of the challenges and opportunities presented by the Internet for youth suicide prevention. It discusses potential influences from these websites and ways we can cope with them. The paper anticipates providing a benchmark for further research and practice on online suicide prevention in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-occurrence of mental illness and substance abuse is among the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. It has become more significant in the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong, and it presents complex issues for both mental health and substance abuse practitioners. This paper explores the historical and conceptual issues on dual diagnosis. In addition, different perspectives on dual diagnosis are crucial for developing public policies and programs to address client needs on the road to recovery. The dominant view on dual diagnosis has been the medical perspective. This paper describes three more perspectives: moralistic, psychosocial risk, and phenomenological. This broader view on dual diagnosis will benefit both policy and service development for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between virtual communities and youth drug use according to some relevant research reports, especially the "Online drug information and Internet-based interventions: A pilot feasibility study" conducted by The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong in 2010. Nowadays, in the so-called "risk society," "risky" information is more easily shared without limitation of time and distance in cyberspace. On the other hand, the Internet seems to be a golden opportunity for reaching the young people in need. This paper also reflects on the feasibility of Internet-based youth work using the case study of online drugs information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on survey data collected in Hong Kong and other economies of East Asia, this paper examines youth's access to and use of the Internet and potential consequences of Internet use on youth in the region. The paper compares Internet use by Hong Kong youth with their peers in neighboring economies to help highlight the unique features as well as common practices of Hong Kong youth. The findings, though by no means representative of Asia, provide a set of consistent and reliable benchmarks against which other parts of Asia and beyond could be compared in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the economic performance of Hong Kong's cultural and creative industries, and its contribution to the local economy. It also examines the salient features of creative manpower as well as the structure of the labour market. Analysis of these areas will help policymakers to have a better understanding of the dynamic relationship between the creative industries and the labour market, and to set the right policy measures. The paper proposes some theoretical premises about the constituents of the creative manpower market, in the hope of filling the gaps in this research topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restorative justice, as both a philosophy and a practical model, links knowledge and practices with justice, crime prevention, offender rehabilitation, conflict management, and community mediation. It is one of the most rapidly emerging concepts in the field of criminology, and over the past 20 years has called upon different groups of aspirants such as scholars, social workers, psychologists, legal professionals, and policy makers to work together. The prime objective of restorative justice is to assist offenders to express remorse, seek forgiveness from victims, and repair the harm they have caused, through a restorative justice forum. This paper firstly explores the origins, content, and focus of restorative justice. By describing the efforts made by a group of scholars, it analyses how restorative justice has become a better recognised service strategy in youth offender rehabilitation and student discipline services. Moreover, this paper will discuss the future development of restorative justice in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses and compares the demand for continuing education amongst young adults in Hong Kong in 2007/08 and 2009/10. Five topics are reported and discussed: the participation rate in continuing education, the top 10 subjects pursued by students, reasons for participating in continuing education, media sources concerning information about continuing education, and barriers to participating in continuing education. These research results could help continuing education institutions to offer programmes and help the Hong Kong SAR government to formulate a continuing education policy for young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are 13,000 cross-boundary students studying in Hong Kong while living in Shenzhen. They cross the boundary every day but they cannot enjoy most social welfare services either in Hong Kong or in Mainland China. Having a unique socioeconomic and cultural background, these children encounter difficulties in adjusting to the school life in Hong Kong. Living in Shenzhen, their voices are not heard and their needs are not met. This paper will introduce the background and needs of the cross-boundary students and the services provided by the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch. Suggestions for effective policy provisions and social services to improve the life of cross-boundary students will also be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the signing of the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications between Hong Kong and China in 2004, the Hong Kong government has introduced several key corresponding initiatives to attract more nonlocal students to Hong Kong, especially Mainland Chinese. The findings in this paper indicate that the dramatic increase in the number of Mainland Chinese students studying in Hong Kong could be highly beneficial to the quality of higher education and human capital in Hong Kong. Since the majority of these Mainland Chinese students are among the best and the brightest--with a high concentration in high-technology and high-growth industries-- they will likely add much to the local workforce and the Hong Kong economy. Concerted efforts and more favourable policies are needed in order to attract, develop, and retain talent so that nonlocal graduates may join the local workforce and contribute to the Hong Kong economy. Policy implications and recommendations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cynicism is a dominant cultural phenomenon in contemporary Hong Kong. It manifests itself as "one acts differently from what one pledges." It is not difficult to see this cynical culture in government policies and NGO projects. Even in education where honesty is much valued, one also witnesses the widespread cynical culture. This paper, drawing on the concept "cynicism" and focusing on two major objectives of the new senior secondary Liberal Studies curriculum, analyses why we act differently from what we pledge, in order to find ways to overcome the cynical mentality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2009, the Hong Kong senior secondary school curriculum has entered into a new stage as all secondary 4, 5, and 6 students will receive free education provided by the government. There will be no public examinations for secondary school students until they fully complete their secondary school education. With regard to curriculum design, it is necessary for the new senior secondary school curriculum to be designed in such a way that it is orientated towards general education. But how can this be done so that the new curriculum will be responsive to students' diverse needs? This paper explores how the new senior secondary school curriculum has been designed to cater for students' individual differences. Its limitations are discussed and suggestions are made in light of the problems faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the importance of vocational education and training (VET) in the successful implementation of the 334 Education Reform through the provision of multiple progression pathways. It also presents how the Vocational Training Council (VTC) has reformed the VET system to attune to changing economic and global trends and new developments, especially those brought about by education policies. It reveals the new face of the VET programmes driven by the VTC which provides value-added multiple progression pathways for the graduates from the new secondary education system, as well as in-service personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government of Hong Kong implemented education reform (the new academic structure) in 2009 in the context of globalization and the international trend of education reforms. The reform has led to changes in the structure and curriculum of secondary schools, which, together with the effect of globalization, will also affect the development of tertiary education in Hong Kong. This paper examines the future development of tertiary education in the above situation. From a review of related literature and education developments in the past, it is envisaged that there may be a substantial increase in private universities in the near future that will lead to a significant increase in the provision of degree courses. Issues such as education quality, government support, and measures to improve the quality of higher education related to the future development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the salient features of the Hong Kong financial system that deal with inflation are discussed. Since Hong Kong adopts a currency board system and has an open economy, the city has no direct control over the external factors that cause inflation. Given the incapability of Hong Kong to handle inflation, the social pressure, studies, career choices, and attitudes towards investment of young people in Hong Kong are subject to its influences. For policy makers, it is vital to understand how these influences affect young people’s beliefs and attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the emerging experiences of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, this paper advocates an effective model of values development for youths in their post-school stage, through encouraging companies and corporations to take on an advanced form of Corporate Social Responsibility called Corporate Citizenship that also has an internal values development role, apart from the usual external contributions role. Moral education inside and beyond schools for youth in Hong Kong is also presented as background to this development for the benefit of overseas readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A current concern in youth services is the factors causing a low rate of youth social participation. Up to now, most studies have reduced this problem to a question of youth disaffection and have simply advocated an increase in civic education. But this increase has not ameliorated the problem but instead has made things worse. This paper explores this problem using Foucault's concept of technologies of the self. It argues that youth (un)participation has become habituated through the creation of technologies of the self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the return of sovereignty to mainland China, the ties between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region have been strengthened as never before. The 2009-10 Policy Address has proposed developing Hong Kong as a regional education hub as well as exploring possibilities for mainland students to pursue studies at non-public-sector secondary schools in Hong Kong. This paper first reviews the background of economic integration between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. It then examines the changing role of education and the need for diversification and a pluralistic approach that schools could implement to fulfil basic education requirements in the context of rapid regional integration. A discussion of problems and challenges faced by educators and society is included in the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the open-door reform policy was adopted in China in the late 1970s, many Hong Kong manufacturers have moved their production facilities to the Pearl River Delta (PRD). Over the decades, the Hong Kong/PRD synergy has been the major impetus behind changes in cross-boundary demographic processes. This paper examines several prominent cross-border demographic issues, including the One Way Permit Scheme, Mainland-Hong Kong marriages and births, and Hong Kong people working and taking up residence in China. Some policy issues on migration are also reviewed and the prospects for a holistic population policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National pride is an important basis for the internal cohesiveness of modern nation-states. This paper makes use of data from a 2007 social survey to examine the national pride amongst Hong Kong youth, and the factors shaping it. It finds that national pride amongst the youth of Hong Kong is very high and similar to that of older age groups, reflecting the success of Hong Kong's reunification with the Chinese nation-state over the past decade. This study also reveals that the factors which have shaped the national pride of Hong Kong people include place of birth, subjective class identification, satisfaction with the local economy, satisfaction with local democratic development, local pride in being citizens of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and trust in the central government. The last two factors seem to most engender national pride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]