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Previous studies of East Asian welfare regimes focus on similarities between social security schemes. In contrast, this paper explores cross-national variations in public–private pension mixes in six welfare states: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Our research echoes the pension policy analysis of international organisations but takes a step forward with emphasis on the historical and institutional characteristics of the respective pension systems. The analysis identifies three institutional patterns. First, the statist pension system (Taiwan and China) primarily relies on public pensions to provide old-age security, with private pensions playing a rather minor role. Second, in the dualist pension system (Japan and Korea) both public and private pensions work in parallel to ensure retirement income, though a clear security gap exists between workers in the formal and informal economies. Finally, the individualist pension system (Hong Kong and Singapore) is characterised by genuine fully funded individual accounts, emphasising citizens' own responsibilities for ensuring old-age security. These three types of pension systems demonstrate distinct institutional characteristics and policy outcomes, illustrated by the juxtaposition of their institutional structures as well as by the comparison of key indicators collected from government reports and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics. The paper concludes with a theoretical reflection of East Asian pension policies and a diagnosis of the distinct challenges confronted by each of the various pension patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Building information modelling (BIM) is a paradigm shift in the architectural, engineering and construction industries which transforms processes to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the implementation of BIM in Hong Kong and the USA and recommend strategies for BIM implementation in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review of BIM initiatives taken in Hong Kong and the USA was conducted including the government policy, guidelines, standards and implementation status. Findings from the literature review were complemented with insights obtained through focused interviews of experts in the field for arriving at recommendations based on the research. The principal investigator of this research also participated in the establishment of a BIM professional institute as one of the founding board members. Findings - As a result of studies performed for this paper, guidelines are proposed for BIM implementation in Hong Kong. The role of government in implementing BIM in different phases of a project lifecycle is also highlighted. Research limitations/implications - The research is limited mainly to the initiatives of BIM taken by the public sector (government). The roles of other stakeholders are not specifically studied. Results from this study should be considered in the context of a qualitative research methodology adopted and the limited number of responses obtained for arriving at the findings of this paper. Practical implications - Results from this study can be used as guidelines for the implementation of BIM elsewhere and this implementation can be compared with other countries. Originality/value - This paper highlights the best practices of BIM implementation, which is useful for the effective and efficient implementation of BIM in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – To prepare Hong Kong students to face a rapidly changing twenty-first century, the Hong Kong Government implemented a major curriculum reform entitled Learning to Learn – The Way Forward in Curriculum Development. This reform has shaped the direction of Hong Kong's school education since 2001. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the reform from the perspectives of the major stakeholders, namely principals, teachers, and students. Design/methodology/approach – The paper was written based on the data obtained from a large-scale study that covered over 250 primary and secondary schools, or about 20 per cent of the total population in Hong Kong. Both qualitative (focus group interviews) and quantitative methods (questionnaire survey) were employed in the study. Findings – The findings indicated that moderate progress has been made in students' overall performance in generic skills, positive values and attitudes, language proficiency, and over the key learning areas. On the other hand, the progress made in secondary schools was perceived to be less than that made in primary schools. The views of frontline teachers could also be different from senior teachers and principals as to the degree of achievement. There also existed a gap as the progress reported for critical thinking and self learning abilities might be less favourable when compared to those reported for IT, reading habits and healthy lifestyle. Originality/value – The original findings and policy suggestions of the paper are of reference value to curriculum policy planners, researchers and educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of policymakers and researchers have recognised the importance of social inclusion. In addition to implementing an inclusive society from the top down through changes in government policy, more people have advocated that such a society can also be achieved from the bottom up. That is, we can consider how to improve daily systems and objects to enhance social inclusion. Ordinary people, including those with special needs, can also exert their influence to make society more inclusive by participating more actively in societal change. From 2008 to 2010, the Public Design Lab in Hong Kong carried out a project to redesign international chess for the visually impaired. In addition to generating a more user-friendly design to improve the social and leisure life of blind people, the project was also expected to widen the scope of blind people's communities, thereby motivating and enabling them to communicate more with other groups. This paper first identifies the difficulties blind people face in their daily lives due to their visual disability. Taking chess as an example, the paper discusses current designs that prevent blind people from enjoying the most popular game in the world. The paper also discusses the findings made and experience gained in a case study in which blind people participated in the whole design process to generate a better chess set that enhances social inclusion. Some future directions for applied research in universal design aimed at bringing about a more inclusive society are also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This paper provides an overview of gambling issues in China, including historical development, governmental responses and social consequences. Methods Based on materials written in Chinese or English available at academic databases and other online resources, historical, cultural and policy analyses were conducted. The focus is on mainland China, but reference is made to Hong Kong and Macao to illustrate differences. Results Throughout Chinese history, gambling was strictly prohibited by law. In contrast, small-stakes betting for entertainment instead of monetary gain, defined as 'gaming' in this paper, has been culturally acceptable and tolerated by governments. After banning gambling for three decades, the Chinese government attempts to meet public demand for 'gaming' and to confine gambling to 'gaming' by issuing national lotteries. In response to increased economic wealth, gambling opportunities were allowed to develop, but were restricted to Macao. Social problems such as illegal and youth gambling are, however, emerging. The 'gaming' perception may predispose Chinese individuals to wagering activities and increase the risk of gambling disorder, which has been widely seen as misconduct rather than a mental disorder. Currently, the country has a dearth of gambling research and limited prevention and rehabilitation services, almost none at national level. Conclusions A distinction between small-stakes 'gaming' and large-stakes 'gambling', which has cultural roots, plays an important role in relevant governmental policies and social responses in mainland China. Gambling disorder prevention and treatment is not yet on the national agenda. The country's knowledge and services gaps on gambling problems need to be filled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equal opportunities should be available to all, and it is only fair and correct that visually impaired persons (VIPs) have equal access to public toilets. However, VIPs, including those in well-developed cities with a high standard of living, face many different barriers when accessing public toilets. Since 2009, a study has been carried out in Hong Kong to review public policy and attempt to improve this situation by striving for an inclusive public environment to assist VIPs. This paper identifies deficiencies in existing policies, and by applying the Universal Design Principles introduced by the Center of University Design of the North Carolina State University, USA, some key design issues that require attention and proposes possible improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The main purpose of the present paper is twofold: to examine and compare the current strategies and policies that are employed by the UK, Australia and Singapore and to recommend appropriate strategies and policies to higher education institutions and the Hong Kong government and elsewhere that are interested in expanding their efforts in recruiting the growing number of students from other countries who are planning to study overseas. Design/methodology/approach -- The data for this project were obtained primarily from documents and in-depth interviews. Documents include government reports, policy addresses, official statistics, etc. The in-depth interviews were conducted in Hong Kong as well as in the four studied cities -- Mumbai, New Delhi, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur. Interviewees included government officials, academics, higher education institutions' representatives, consultant generals, and officials from policy bodies. Findings -- It is clear from the findings of this present study that a set of favorable policies and strategies at the national level was behind the success of these competitors. Such policies are not confined to educational policies but are extended to population and employment policies. Research limitations/implications -- Though the study examined policies and strategies employed by three countries, findings from the study may generate useful information to countries that may be interested in exporting their higher education to Asian markets. Practical implications -- The paper suggests that if Hong Kong is to attain success in becoming an international exporter of education services, it may need to adopt favorable policies at institute and system level, and in so doing it can definitely benefit by carefully studying the strategies and policies employed by these three competitors. Originality/value -- Few studies have examined and compared strategies and policies employed by these three key major players of higher education services. This study provides some useful strategies and policy recommendation to education decision makers in Hong Kong and elsewhere that may be interested in entering Asian markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research paper on the implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. It states that the study involves a questionnaire survey in Hong Kong, China, Australia and Great Britain to investigate the reasons for implementing PPP projects. It mentions that respondents were required to rate the importance of nine identified reasons for PPP project implementation. It notes that the study aims to obtain public's interest to understand the government approach in implementing PPP projects. Moreover, the respondents' rankings showed that Great Britain centered on financial elements of PPP projects while Australia and Hong Kong were more linked to overall performance.

The introduction of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) at the beginning of 2004 and, more recently, CEPA-2 has provided a framework for increased business development in the Pearl River Delta area of China and the Special Administrative Regions of Macau and Hong Kong. In particular, the introduction of CEPA may lead to a significant increase in trade between Hong Kong and the neighbouring Guangdong Province. This paper examines the economic context into which the CEPA provisions have been implemented from an international perspective and it contains an assessment of relevant business development issues, particularly the case of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in mainland China and Hong Kong. Wider issues for direct investment and the role of Hong Kong are also assessed. Experience with the implementation of free trade and associated market developments in other parts of the world is included but it is suggested that such models are of limited use in assessing economic development in the Pan Pearl River Delta Area. It seems that models derived from local practice will be more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In Hong Kong, the demand for home ownership over the past decade has been phenomenal. Before the economic crisis and the property market slump in 1997/98, house prices in Hong Kong were among the highest in the world. A 'home ownership ethos' was cultivated, in which most people believed that the promotion of home ownership brought prosperity to the economy and benefited individual owners. This paper argues that the existing 'pro-ownership and anti-rental' housing policy does not benefit the economy or many of the lower and middle-income homeowners. On the contrary, it undermines the stability of the economy and widens social inequalities along various dimensions such as class and gender, and between the younger and older generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the diffusion of activism in post-colonial Hong Kong through the lens of the political regime and eventful analysis. It first reveals the institutional foundations of the hybrid regime that allowed the creation of a nascent movement society. It then explains how the historic 1 July rally in 2003 and a series of critical events since 2006 have led to a shift in scale and the public staging of street politics. A time-series analysis and onsite survey further capture the dynamics that spawned the collective recognition of grievances and reduced participation costs, leading to the Umbrella Movement. While the spontaneous, voluntary and decentralized organizational structure sustained protest momentum, the regime has adopted hybrid strategies to counter-mobilize bottom-up activism. The result is widening contention between the state and civil society and within civil society, or the coexistence of regime instability and regime longevity, a trend that is increasingly common in hybrid regimes encountering mass protests. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

China's Bay Area policies are important for integrating Hong Kong (HK) and Macao youth into China's overall development. However, their effect on national identity is still mostly theoretical, lacking objective and scientific empirical evaluations. From a cultural adaptation perspective, interactions between social groups with different cultural backgrounds can promote cultural and political identity transformation. Therefore, guided by China's Bay Area policies, which encourage various cross-border exchanges via economic cooperation, HK youth can keep in touch with such Mainland Chinese cultural values as "responsible government", facilitating "political socialization", and political–cultural adaptation, helping to promote their psychological inclusion into society, contributing to a positive attitude towards the mainland government, and achieving the policy effect of building national identity. A quasi-natural experiment based on the regional differences in the first stages of China's Bay Area policies can help to evaluate their effects on HK youth's national identity. This study defines the initial stage of the Bay Area policy implementation as from 2016, when the 13th Five-Year Plan advocated building the "Great Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao", to 2019, when the Outline was published. The policies issued at this stage were the so-called "early policies". Due to data limitations, it is difficult to obtain post-2019 survey data; therefore, the study mainly focuses on the policy effects at the beginning of the Bay Area's construction. Four groups of cross-sectional data from the World Value Survey 6 (WVS6) (2010–2014) and World Value Survey 7 (WVS7) (2017–2020), with HK and the mainland (the non-Guangdong region) included, are used to examine the policy effect under the Difference-in-Differences (DID) Model. The research shows that the policies significantly enhanced HK youth's national identity, and their trust in the mainland government played an intermediary role in the policy effect mechanism. However, the effect was uneven, benefiting the national identities of HK youth working in the for-profit private sector more than their unemployed or public sector peers. Therefore, this research proposes several policy implications to facilitate policy decision making related to youth in China's Bay Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has been the flagship labouratory of Deng Xiaoping’s reform and open-door policy and the forerunner of China’s capitalist transformation. The initiation of the Shenzhen SEZ was driven by the imperative of political and economic survival along the state hierarchy and was informed by the international practices of export processing zones (EPZs). Shenzhen’s capitalist fundamentals, such as the commodification of land and labour, were largely established through imitating its ‘big master’ Hong Kong across the border. However, Shenzhen’s policy learning style has gradually shifted from laissez-faire Hong Kong to authoritarian Singapore, propelled by the aspiration, shared among policy-making party élites across China’s administrative hierarchy, of perpetuating the single-party rule. Theoretically, this paper demonstrates how policy mobility is shaped path-dependently by the pre-structured institutional/ideological regime, in what ways the idiosyncratic geographical/historical conjuncture matters, and why political representation and participation are crucial to policy selection and mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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Very often, crime can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims. More often, it scars the entire communities, and the costs to society as a whole are huge. For long, we made reducing crime as the top priority. We have embarked on a series of policies of reform and investment to tackle crime and the causes of crime. Nevertheless, there are still some people have been recalled to the prison again and again. We call these people "Chronic Offender". Obviously, the offenders often have their own stories behind the cases. However, very often, the diversity among these offenders has long been ignored. The research aims to offer a platform to evaluate the influences of an earlier and alternative treatment for the rehabilitation service. The most significant impact of this paper is that it is an initial research, in Hong Kong, to evaluate the influences of an earlier and alternative treatment in the process of rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "Primary school curriculum leadership" scheme was first introduced to Hong Kong primary schools by the Education Bureau in year 2002/03. An additional teaching post which was known as Primary Schoolmaster/Schoolmistress (Curriculum Development) - or PSM(CD), had been created to help the school head to lead internal curriculum development in primary school. This scheme was considered to be a pioneering initiative in Hong Kong as well as the Chinese culture societies. Aims: The paper reviews the curriculum leadership development in Hong Kong primary schools by examining the impacts of the work of PSM(CD) on internal curriculum development and school development in the context of curriculum reform, the challenges and difficulties faced by the PSM(CD)s in discharging their responsibilities, their successful experiences, and provides implications for future development. Comments: PSM(CD)s claimed that to carry out their responsibilities, they needed to perform different roles such as coworker, mentor, innovator, role model, and leader. Furthermore, the most important factors that would hinder their work were school organizational factors, supports of school heads and colleagues, readiness of the school as a whole for change, and personal limitations. Conclusion: This paper argues while some achievements had been made since the introduction of the PSM(CD) scheme, it is also worth our attention to note that this scheme promoted teacher leadership development at the school sites, which eventually contributed positive impacts on whole school development. On the other hand, it is noted that PSM(CD)s would encounter many difficulties and challenges in discharging their duties. There is urgent need to find out solutions to help the newly appointed PSM(CD)s to develop their competences and become a "successful" curriculum leader. This paper also concludes the successful criteria of the work of PSDM(CD) which should be a useful reference for the PSM(CD)s as well as the school heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating how the PRC responds to democratization in Taiwan and Hong Kong, this paper argues that the Chinese Communist leadership has mainly developed three strategies in managing the complicated crises, including Beijing's own legitimacy crisis and the integration crisis of the Chinese nation, caused by the rise of offshore Chinese democracies. These strategies are: identity politics, sovereignty politics, and economic penetration. With 'identity politics', Beijing identifies 'identification with the Communist leadership' as the sole Chinese national identification, and utilizes the nationalistic passions of mainland and even overseas Chinese people against democrats in Taiwan and Hong Kong, by labeling the latter as 'separatists' or 'national traitors'. Further, Beijing defines 'sovereignty' in a way in which the 'central' government monopolizes all possessions of the nation, and excludes 'people's sovereignty' from the politics of national reunification or the 'one country, two systems' model actualization. While appealing to both 'soft power' based in 'patriotic nationalism' and 'hard power' embedded in national sovereignty, however, the Chinese regime also mobilizes business resources and opportunities provided by China's growing economic power and China's dominance in Greater Chian economic integration for its political purposes of curbing offshore Chinese democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of inflation in China over the past few decades has been remarkable. This paper characterizes the statistical nature of the inflation series in China over the past quarter of a century and presents an interesting scenario of large decline in inflation pass-through accompanied with low inflation since the end of the 1990s. How should monetary policy in China be conducted under these new economic conditions? We propose a discrete inflation-targeting framework for monetary policy, which is likely to be suitable for the regime of low inflation and inflation pass-through. The advantages and caveats of adopting such a framework are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing poverty policy in Hong Kong is based on simple conceptualisation of the nature and causes of poverty. In light of the changing patterns of poverty in Hong Kong, current poverty policy is deemed inadequate in meeting the needs of the new poor. Hence, the paper aims at establishing possible alternate poverty models to deal with the new dimensions of poverty in Hong Kong. The paper begins with a review of various concepts and manifestations of poverty from western literature, and how these have translated into a variety of poverty policies in western societies. The central part of the paper discusses in detail the nature and extent of poverty in Hong Kong, its changing patterns and causes. Finally, the paper provides an analytical framework, drawing from western experiences, for policy formulation and development that could be applied to the experiences in Hong Kong. This theoretical framework may prove valuable and useful in pointing to a new directive that Hong Kong poverty policy might develop in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the application of a transitional employment program (TEP) for psychiatric patients in Hong Kong. The TEP and its values in psychiatric rehabilitation are introduced. The differences between TEP and Supported Employment (SE) were also highlighted. A TEP for psychiatric patients in an acute general hospital is outlined. Interviews of employer and trainees showed that, apart from increasing income, qualitative changes in the trainees were observed such as increased self-confidence, improved assertive and social skills, and increased work tolerance. Ongoing objective measurement should be conducted to demonstrate its effectiveness. TEP could be considered as a feasible alternative of vocational rehabilitation for patients with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hong Kong has undergone significant changes in the last two decades, and their impacts have been visible on the economic and political aspects of life. As the territory became prosperous, political system reforms had to be introduced in order to keep pace with the changes in society. At the same time, it was necessary to introduce changes in the public administration system. Hong Kong's scheduled reversal of sovereignty to China has added to the scenario's complexity, as the transformation from a British colony to a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China entails delicate balance in planning reforms. This paper considers the administrative reform attempts made in Hong Kong. Beginning with the 1989 public sector reform document, there have been a number of noticeable changes in public administration process and values. An examination of previous and recent attempts indicates that changes have been largely influenced by political considerations and the tendency to emulate practices from elsewhere, while the genuine needs of society may have been neglected. There have been corresponding changes in the objectives, strategies, and style adopted by the government and public administrators. This paper will try to note the nature of the recent changes within Hong Kong's public administration, changes which will naturally have implications on the relationship of Hong Kong with its neighbors, including the Republic of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1966 Hong Kong riots were the trigger for wide-ranging changes in relationships between the government and the public which shaped the political future of the colony. However, it is not immediately clear why a relatively small-scale disturbance which was quickly contained should have had such a considerable impact. The explanation, it is argued, lies in a confluence of factors. The riots were the first to be specifically concerned with events in Hong Kong rather than in China and therefore required attention to local causes; urban councillors were demanding more electoral representation and devolution of government functions to the Council; the Commission of Inquiry into the riots held public meetings raising political awareness; and reforming senior civil servants saw the riots as an opportunity for change. Because there was antipathy within government towards elections and to any devolution of functions, the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry were given priority, resulting in administrative rather than public policy or electoral solutions, a decision which retarded the development of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has always been an enormous threat to our living environments. In Hong Kong, energy consumed in buildings is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is estimated that energy use in residential and commercial buildings alone accounts for more than 60 per cent of GHG emitted citywide. Hence, the building sector presents a strong opportunity to make substantial progress in reducing Hong Kong's energy demand and carbon emissions. For the past few years, the HKSAR Government has been spearheading the promotion of green buildings in Hong Kong and has continuously strived to place their efforts on various initiatives to achieve higher energy efficiency and to promote low carbon living. The government provides continuous support and works together with the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) and various stakeholders to improve the energy efficiency in the building industry through numerous initiatives. The contributions of government and the private sector are equally important in combating climate change. The government and HKGBC have conducted strategic schemes with clear objectives and achievable targets. A practical support programme, 'ACT-Shop', is therefore available to promote knowledge-based practice on energy saving. Professionals are invited to help investigate the data of each case, develop improvement options and verity the savings. This paper aims to further discuss the concerted effort of the government and the HKGBC in combating climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the "one country, two systems" model fashioned after its handover to China in 1997, Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China, is to retain its rule of law, capitalist system, and accompanying political and ideological independence. However, tensions remain centered on concerns held by many Hong Kong citizens over the "resinicization" of Hong Kong, related to anxieties regarding the putative erosion of political and ideological freedoms. This paper examines the claims-making of the student activist group Scholarism, who effectively used Facebook to raise awareness of and successfully resist a government proposal to introduce a national education curriculum into Hong Kong schools. Scholarism's resistance and ability to mobilize mass demonstrations against the government is significant considering the lack of democratic channels in Hong Kong. Implications are explored for the examination of how claims-making in cyberspace impacts the social problems process, especially in non-democratic and post-colonial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007, the Government of Hong Kong implemented the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme to provide allowances for parents to purchase services in local preschools. The scheme includes the policy for subsidising the professional development of preschool teachers, which aims at upgrading their professional qualifications in five years, thereby improving teaching quality. This paper explores whether there is a gap between the policy objectives and teacher professional development through case studies at a time when the education reform has been implemented. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The participants had some views in common about the positive aspects of the professional development policy. However, the findings also indicate that preschool teachers have a passive attitude toward learning, which might have an adverse influence on their lifelong professional development. The implications for the professional development policy and teacher professional development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To tackle the large amount of solid waste generated from construction activities, Hong Kong has issued a series of construction waste management policies in the last twenty years. One of the most significant policies is the launch of an off-site construction waste sorting (CWS) program. Since its implementation in 2006, the off-site CWS program has contributed greatly to construction waste minimization by hitherto separating 5.11 million tons of construction waste in total. This paper aims at carrying out a thorough investigation into the off-site CWS program in Hong Kong. Both successful experience and existent shortcomings in relation to the CWS program are discussed in detail. Data on which the analysis and discussions are based are mainly obtained from two channels. One is from literature review and examination on government regulations and statistics, while the other is from two empirical case studies carried out at the Tuen Mun construction waste sorting facility. The findings reveal that the success of the off-site CWS program is mainly attributed to ‘sustaining policy support from the Hong Kong government’, ‘good policy execution’, ‘encouraging off-site CWS through higher disposal charges’ and ‘implementation of the trip-ticket system’. Suggestions for further enhancing the effectiveness of the off-site CWS program are also proposed. The study is not only useful for decision makers to further improve the overall effectiveness of this practice, but also provides valuable references for other countries or regions in minimizing construction waste through off-site waste sorting program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hong Kong not only has one of the most institutionally-involved housing markets, but also one of the most developed stock markets in the world. In the meantime, the function of real estate has become increasingly important, yet increasingly vague at the same time. This paper attempts to explore the significant factors in the price adjustments of residential properties. It is found that while most market fundamentals are not significant in explaining property price movements, the roles of investment concerns and of government policy changes in assisted homeownership (HOS) are much more critical in this regard. On the one hand, real estate prices are driven more by investor demand, rather than by user demand; and residential properties are used to hedge against price risks in the stock market, instead of against inflation. On the other hand, while the upgrading hypothesis is confirmed in this study, the situation of Hong Kong turns out to be a bit different from the Singapore experience. As the production of HOS flats is suspended until further notice, the resale HOS market has managed to pull a fraction of homebuyers from the private sector. This particular finding shows that the government’s decision to suspend HOS flat production and sale in Fall 2002 has not accomplished what was intended to achieve. Instead, this leads to several implications, which are then discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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]

A preliminary assessment of the overall environmental sustainability of the existing housing system of Hong Kong is given, and the usefulness of M. Bhatti's building life-cycle model in developing a policy for sustainable housing development is assessed. While it is found that housing development in this highly compact city may not be ecologically sustainable, high-density living does enable some environment-friendly practices. The life-cycle model is instrumental in estimating the overall greenness of the housing processes, and prompts the need for formulating a sustainable housing policy. However, the model itself does not provide a framework for developing such a policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to throw light on Hong Kong Chinese entrepreneurs' perceptions of the likely risks and opportunities posed by the People's Republic of China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. A content-analysis of thirty-two interviews suggests that memories of unfavorable experiences in the past has not affected their perceptions of future political risks. There seems to be a convergent optimism regarding financial opportunities for Hong Kong business and the manifest political and economic problems are seen by the entrepreneurs merely as temporary setbacks on the road to improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2001, the Hong Kong government implemented a concession policy allowing green and amenity features to be exempted from gross floor area (GFA) calculations in new residential properties. There have recently been community concerns that developers are using this policy to substantially increase the floor area of buildings. In the 2010-2011 policy address, the Hong Kong government decided to tighten the existing policy. This paper attempts to estimate the efficacy of the proposed GFA concession policy. Five case studies are selected to demonstrate the change in GFA concession. It is found that the proposed GFA concessionary has a positive effect in controlling the height and bulk of buildings, and a reduction of approximately 4.58% GFA concession can be achieved, compared to the existing policy. However, some negative effects are also created, including the increase of housing price (or the drop of land auction price) and the discouragement of green features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively little is known about the experiences of Chinese widows, especially those living outside China. This qualitative study examines the experiences of eight Chinese or Hong Kong-born widows living in the UK. Using a semistructured approach to interviewing, participants were asked about their lives before, during, and after their spousal bereavement. Five major themes emerged: (1) complexity of marital lives; (2) experiences around the time of the death including fate; (3) loneliness and isolation; (4) the challenges of practical tasks; and finally, (5) current life. The implications of the findings for social policy and practice are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use is a key component to the sustainability of a city. Land-use planning policy should not be based solely on the hard figures, but also needs observational insights. Existing assessment methods and corresponding indexes may not provide comprehensive evaluation on sustainability practices. Therefore, a qualitative, comprehensive method is required to supplement sustainable land-use evaluation. This study developed a comprehensive evaluation framework embracing views from experts and the public for assessing land-use sustainability and applied it to the case of Hong Kong. Experts were interviewed to explain the relationship between land-use transition and impact factors, and through questionnaire survey, residents provided their ranking scores on the economic, environmental, and social performances to land-use change. A subsequent investigation was then conducted to understand/validate the different opinions given by experts and residents on sustainability. Finally, according to the questionnaire, survey, and supplementary investigation, the evaluation results were calculated and public evaluation criteria were formulated. The result also shows that Hong Kong’s land-use change in 2000–2010 is only marginally sustainable, with Open space to the best and decreased Grassland to the worst. The primary criteria of public requirement in economic, environmental, and social aspects are promoted productivity and labor force, extended natural space, and available resources. The proposed qualitative evaluation framework could be used to obtain the public view on the whole city’s land-use performance, providing new perspectives for planners and decision makers to move a city toward more sustainable land use by mitigating negative impacts, encouraging the most sustainable land-use, and balancing economic, environmental,javascript:affAutoSplit(); and social effects. In addition, criteria for land-use assessment developed from a new perspective can be applied in China’s urban systems for sustainability assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hong Kong government recently introduced a sex offender registry that gives the public access to records of sexual offence conviction. This step was taken in the context of a penal system that traditionally places a high value on rehabilitation and a culture that traditionally supports rape myths. This study explores public attitudes among the Hong Kong Chinese towards a variety of sex offending policies and the variables, particularly stereotypical views of offenders, which may influence them. Overall, support was expressed for policies that sought to manage the risk posed by sex offenders. This shift is explained by the emergence of a fear of sex offenders as Hong Kong tries to maintain its reputation for good social order amid social and political change, and a new emphasis on sex crimes as a danger to the most vulnerable members of society, namely children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why did Hong Kong property developers continue to produce a large amount of new industrial accommodation despite the city exhibiting a strong trend of deindustrialization since the late 1970s? This study addresses this question by examining a longitudinal cross-sectoral interaction between industrial and office property markets and its relationship with planning policy. It theorizes about the substitutability between industrial and office accommodation and hypothesizes that the use of new industrial premises by nonmanufacturing operators may be the answer. Using the methodology of Johansen cointegration and a vector error correction model, our estimations have found that industrial rent, price, and supply were influenced by both changing economic structure and office market parameters. Cross-sectoral influences between industrial and office property markets were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present qualitative study was designed to investigate the material challenges facing the elderly services industry in Hong Kong. Twenty-one elderly service providers were invited to participate in this study and were asked to comment on the implementation and impacts of existing products and services for the elderly, to express their views on the government’s leadership, policy and strategy on dealing with the ageing population, and to discuss the allocation of public resources and the making of strategic directions in the provision of elderly services. Three major policy-related issues were identified in the discussion, namely the fragmentation of the official policy on elderly services, the rigidity of public funding, and the use of human resources among service elderly providers. The present study draws on these findings to examine the shortage of frontline workforce from the societal and public policy perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing literature has long recognized that a partnership has been forged between the PRC government and Hong Kong's capitalist class. However, the implications of such a partnership for HKSAR governance have yet to be thoroughly explored. By examining the formation of this partnership and its consolidation after 1997, this article argues that the business sector's direct access to the sovereign state has fundamentally changed the dynamics of state–business relations in the HKSAR. As a consequence of the partnership between Beijing and the business sector, business elites have taken their concerns straight to the mainland authorities whenever they see their interests affected by the post-colonial state. This kind of circumvention has become a part of post-1997 politics, undermining the relative autonomy of the post-colonial state and resulting in growing cleavages within the state–business alliance during the first 15 years of the HKSAR. Whether and how such a partnership will evolve in the aftermath of the 2012 chief executive election remains to be seen. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

International student mobility has emerged as a key source of societal and educational transformations in the booming economies of East Asia. International competencies are increasingly valued by employees and employers alike. Given the uneven distribution of international student flows, and the inequitable levels of benefit that they bring to various locales and institutions, some jurisdictions are seeking the optimal policy instruments for leveraging public and private interests in the mobility of human resources and knowledge. This case study of Hong Kong looks at the outbound–inbound student flows and explains how the government facilitates cross-border education balances. The researchers utilized the four modes of the General Agreement on Trades in Services framework, and found it to be a helpful tool in analyzing the government's balancing act, despite the challenges associated with the conceptualization of international student mobility as a commodity or trade in services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international literature reflects the significance of transition services for postschool outcomes of students with disabilities. In 2008, the Hong Kong Government introduced a policy to support students with disabilities, especially those with specific learning difficulties (SLD), to transition to postschool life in inclusive settings. This article focuses on the status of policy implementation in Hong Kong and its link to the higher education participation of students with SLD. Analyses are based on expectations of policymakers for school practices in transition services, parental experiences, and a discussion forum involving postsecondary students with SLD, advocacy groups, and university student affair personnel. Findings reveal a lack of expectation for implementation and school accountability from policymakers, an extremely low participation rate of students with SLD in higher education, a slow development of support systems in higher education, and the significant role played by an advocacy group on moving the higher education support forward in the absence of a policy mandate. By focusing on the close relationship between transition services and postsecondary outcomes, the use of legislation for disability policies to ensure the provision of transition services and the role of self and external advocacy to lobby for such legislation are recommended and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Soft’ policy has newly emerged as a policy implementation concept in relation to governance. Non-binding in character, ‘soft’ policy is designed for multi-level systems of governance in which there is relative autonomy at different levels of collective decision-making. ‘Soft’ policy has gained attention since the adoption of curriculum reforms in various countries that involve governance and coordination among multi-level systems. In real practice, ‘soft’ methods or measures are used to assist implementation at various levels. The present study explores how ‘soft’ policy has been realised in recent large-scale curriculum reform in Hong Kong. In essence, the study explores the ‘soft’ measures used by the government in the curriculum change, how these ‘soft’ measures have brought changes to schools, and how they were received by school principals and teachers. Implications are also drawn from these real cases of ‘soft’ policy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]