3 Units
The course aims at helping students to understand the nature, features, development, dilemmas and future prospects of social policy and social welfare in Hong Kong and East Asia. It looks at whether and how far social policy and social welfare in East Asia are different from those of the Western welfare states in terms of role and functions of state and society in the arrangement of welfare, culture and social values, policy instruments, and outcome measures. The social welfare systems in East Asia, in particular with that of Hong Kong in comparison with the rest will be highlighted. The students will be benefited from the comparative perspective for an understanding of the specific context where social policy in Hong Kong and East Asia has developed and the challenges it now faces amidst growing social disparities and economic globalization.