Public Policymaking in Hong Kong

Description

This book discusses civic engagement and public policymaking in postcolonial Hong Kong. Utilizing case studies of citizens’ advisory committees involving four policy areas - urban planning, social welfare policy, environmental protection, and arts and culture policy - it examines the interaction between the state and civil society, and explores how far the state opens up its policy process for citizens’ participation. Although citizens' advisory committees are widely used in liberal democracies, they were made extensive use of by the colonial administration in Kong Kong, and continue to be used under the present regime. Some people have argued that the committees are mostly window-dressing. This book, however, demonstrates that they do offer the opportunity for increased public involvement, with some committees having been tranformed into more open forums, though at the same time other forms of societal mobilisation have had a significant impact on policy, forcing the government to delay or alter a wide range of policies on harbour reclamation, urban planning and heritage conservation.

Contents

1. Introduction: Civic Engagement and Public Policymaking in a Semi-Democracy 2. The Urban Planning Policy Domain – The Case of Southeast Kowloon Planning 3. The Social Welfare Policy Domain – The Case of Anti-Poverty 4. Environmental Protection Policy Domain – The Case of Municipal Solid Waste Management 5. The Arts and Culture Policy Domain - The Case of Performing Arts 6. Conclusion: The Consequence of Societal Mobilization in Different Policy Domains 7. Civic Engagement in Asia: Hong Kong and Other Political Regimes Compared

Author Bio

Eliza W.Y. Lee is Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong.

Joseph C.W. Chan is professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration and director of the Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong.

Elaine Y.M. Chan is Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong.

Peter T.Y. Cheung is Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong, and the Director of its Master of Public Administration Programme.

Wai Fung Lam is Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Hong Kong.

Wai-man Lam is Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong.

Related Subjects

1. Asian Politics
2. Public Policy