Social Security Policy in Hong Kong: From British Colony to China's Special Administrative Region

by Chak Kwan Chan

Overview

For more than four decades, free market economists and right-wing politicians have touted Hong Kong as a model of capitalism and a market economy success story. Social Security Policy in Hong Kong: From British Colony to Special Administrative Region of China, by Chak Kwan Chan, argues that Hong Kong's capitalism is not the result of democratic choice but the consequence of an administrative-led polity that has had suppressed democracy, limited trade unions' activities, and manipulated traditional Chinese welfare ideologies to maintain a small government. Social Security Policy in Hong Kong is the first book that systematically analyzes the dynamic relationships between Hong Kong's polity, Chinese welfare ideologies, and social security provisions from British colonial rule to China's special administrative region.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739149546
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/22/2011
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Chak Kwan Chan is reader in social policy at Nottingham Trent University.

Table of Contents

List of Tables ix

Abbreviations xi

Preface xiii

1 Hong Kong Social Policy & Chinese Welfare Ideologies 1

2 Co-optive Politics & Welfare Constraints 11

3 Legitimacy & Chinese Welfare Ideologies 25

4 Traditional Chinese Welfare Ideologies 37

5 Social Security & Chinese Welfare Ideologies Before 1945 61

6 Social Security & Chinese Welfare Ideologies: 1945-1967 83

7 Social Security & Chinese Welfare Ideologies: 1968-1997 111

8 Postcolonial Polity & Welfare Approach 137

9 Postcolonial Social Security & Chinese Welfare Ideologies 153

10 Chinese Welfare Ideologies & Hong Kong's Capitalism 171

Bibliography 183

Index 209

What People are Saying About This

James Midgley

[This] is among a handful of studies that have paid attention to the role of European imperialism in social welfare and should inspire more research into this neglected topic. It also offers important insights of relevance to social security policy in other parts of the world as well.

Nelson Chow

The book is probably the best I have read about social policy in Hong Kong. Tracing welfare development in Hong Kong, the author discusses the influence of traditional Chinese values on welfare, the interplay between British colonialism and Chinese socialism, and the striving of the local Hong Kong people to develop a system that links up welfare and democracy.

James Lee

In this very well-written and richly detailed analysis, Chak Kwan Chan offers a convincing argument to explain why Hong Kong's social welfare system has remained highly residual as a result of skillful manipulation by colonial officials on traditional Chinese family values. The author's insightful analysis on the political economy of social welfare makes a significant contribution to the literature on East Asian social policy and social development. It should be widely read in the academic and policy communities.

Alan Walker

Social Security Policy in Hong Kong is undoubtedly the outstanding book on social security and the nature of the welfare system in Hong Kong. The book makes accessible a mountain of evidence and is essential reading for anyone interested in social policy in Hong Kong and China.

Editorial Reviews

Chak Kwan Chan’s Social Security in Hong Kong is a well-written book on Hong Kong’s social welfare policies. ... [T]his is an informative book which serves as a useful textbook or background reference for the study of Hong Kong society.” —The China Journal

“In this very well-written and richly detailed analysis, Chak Kwan Chan offers a convincing argument to explain why Hong Kong's social welfare system has remained highly residual as a result of skillful manipulation by colonial officials on traditional Chinese family values. The author's insightful analysis on the political economy of social welfare makes a significant contribution to the literature on East Asian social policy and social development. It should be widely read in the academic and policy communities.” —James Lee, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

“[This] is among a handful of studies that have paid attention to the role of European imperialism in social welfare and should inspire more research into this neglected topic. It also offers important insights of relevance to social security policy in other parts of the world as well.” —James Midgley, University of California, Berkeley

“The book is probably the best I have read about social policy in Hong Kong. Tracing welfare development in Hong Kong, the author discusses the influence of traditional Chinese values on welfare, the interplay between British colonialism and Chinese socialism, and the striving of the local Hong Kong people to develop a system that links up welfare and democracy.” —Nelson Chow, University of Hong Kong

“Social Security Policy in Hong Kong is undoubtedly the outstanding book on social security and the nature of the welfare system in Hong Kong. The book makes accessible a mountain of evidence and is essential reading for anyone interested in social policy in Hong Kong and China.” —Alan Walker, University of Sheffield

From the Publisher

[This] is among a handful of studies that have paid attention to the role of European imperialism in social welfare and should inspire more research into this neglected topic. It also offers important insights of relevance to social security policy in other parts of the world as well.

James Midgley

In this very well-written and richly detailed analysis, Chak Kwan Chan offers a convincing argument to explain why Hong Kong's social welfare system has remained highly residual as a result of skillful manipulation by colonial officials on traditional Chinese family values. The author's insightful analysis on the political economy of social welfare makes a significant contribution to the literature on East Asian social policy and social development. It should be widely read in the academic and policy communities.

James Lee

Social Security Policy in Hong Kong is undoubtedly the outstanding book on social security and the nature of the welfare system in Hong Kong. The book makes accessible a mountain of evidence and is essential reading for anyone interested in social policy in Hong Kong and China.

Alan Walker

The book is probably the best I have read about social policy in Hong Kong. Tracing welfare development in Hong Kong, the author discusses the influence of traditional Chinese values on welfare, the interplay between British colonialism and Chinese socialism, and the striving of the local Hong Kong people to develop a system that links up welfare and democracy.

Nelson Chow

Chak Kwan Chan’s Social Security in Hong Kong is a well-written book on Hong Kong’s social welfare policies. ... [T]his is an informative book which serves as a useful textbook or background reference for the study of Hong Kong society.

The China Journal