Social Policy in Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong

Department of Social Work and Social Administration

Introduction to Social Administration

1st Term Paper

Name: Ruby Cheng Wai Yin

University Number: 2006054182

Curriculum: BSocSc (GEN)

Date of Submission: 3rd November, 2006

Assignment title

3. Comment on the social values of welfare held by Hong Kong people. Are there any development and changes? If it does, what are the factors affecting the changes?

Abstract

This paper first presents the overview of the traditional notions that affected the social value of welfare held by Hong Kong people. Some recent empirical studies and surveys on the shift in which Hong Kong people views the welfare by the new generations will be discussed. Finally, to address the continuing influence of deep-rooted ideas among the Hong Kong Chinese, a study will be presented on how the economic, political and social environment affect the perspectives and practices among the Hong Kong Chinese.

Introduction

The most striking feature nowadays in Hong Kong is that people would stand out to fight for their wants and needs towards the Hong Kong government. This can be illustrated by the 7.1 Protests in 2003 and 2004 respectively, people become more aware of their rights as a citizen in Hong Kong especially after the change of sovereignty. The sense of identity raises the Hong Kong peoples’ expectation on the government. And this in turn have an impact on the social value of welfare.

Tracing back to the period after the World War II, there are a few voluntary organizations set up in Hong Kong and they provided emergency services to the needy. Only until MacLehose’s term as governor starting from 1972, there were massive and remarkable developments in every aspect of social services (Aspalter, 2002). He started a welfare program in 1973 that education, public housing, medical and social welfare services were the four pillars to build a better society (Leung& Wong, 1994) to appease the...