This project aims to quantify the relationships among mobility, social contacts, non-pharmaceutical interventions and COVID-19 transmission under different levels of reopening. On this basis, we will assess various scenarios for containing future resurgences of COVID-19. This proposed project will ultimately provide a novel methodology by which spatial mobility and human behavioral data can be processed and analyzed to yield a more precise modeling of COVID-19 transmission, and strategies and evidence to guide COVID-19 interventions and preparedness across the world during the post-lockdown period.

Project Coordinator : Professor Huang Bo

Co-PI: Professor Tony Tam

The Centre has received funding from Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme to start a project on the intention to move to the Greater Bay Area and the experience and settlement outcomes of working in the Greater Bay Area among Hong Kong residents.

There is no doubt that the success of the Greater Bay Area initiative partly depends on whether or not Hong Kong residents see moving to and working in the Greater Bay Area is a desirable and viable option for developing their career.  Through conducting a large-scale survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, our team will identify the factors that facilitate or hinder the intention of Hong Kong residents to move to and work in the Greater Bay Area, the perceived advantages and disadvantages of working in the area, and the settlement patterns there.  Though we explore the experience of all Hong Kong residents, the focus is on youth, highly-skilled individuals, and those involved in a knowledge-based economy.  The evidence provided by this project is expected to suggest sensible, sustainable, and effective policies.  The study is guided by a wide range of existing literature and reflects current Hong Kong context.

FONG Wai Ching, Eric (PI)
CHEUNG Wai Ting, Nicole
CHU May
HE Shenjing
JIN Lei
Kumiko SHIBUYA
SHU Binbin
SHUI Chi Wai, Kenny
TONG Yuying
WONG Wai Ho, Wilson
WONG Yuen Shan, Stephen
ZHONG Hua, Sara

The centre has started a collaborative project with Department of Sociology, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Our Hong Kong Foundation on the Social and Economic Integration of Migrants in the Greater Bay Area. The project is funded by Our Hong Kong Foundation.

Numerous policies, from housing to the integration of higher education, have been suggested to encourage migration and integration in the Greater Bay Area. However, what has been missing from discussions is the view of migrants themselves who are the main actors in economic, social, and cultural integration of the region. Therefore, our project will conduct a survey to understand the experiences and integration of migrants.  The information to be collected include (1) reasons to move, (2) settlement processes, (3) reasons for starting a business in other part of the Greater Bay Area, (4) social integration of migrants in the local city, (5) economic integration of migrants in the local city, (6) cultural integration of migrants in the local city, and (7) the relationship of migrants with family members.  The findings of the studies should help policy makers design effective and efficient policies for facilitating social and economic integration of the Greater Bay Area.

CUHK team:
Prof. CHEUNG Wai Ting, Nicole (PI)
Prof. JIN Lei
Prof. TONG Yuying
Prof. WONG Suk Ying
Prof. ZHONG Hua, Sara
Dr. SHU Binbin
Ms. CHANG Yun Tzu, Angel

HKU team:
Prof. Eric Fong (PI)

Our Hong Kong Foundation team:
Mr. Stephen Wong
Mr. Kenny Shui
Ms. Judy Chen
Ms. KaPo Chow
Ms. Louise Wen

The Centre conducted a survey of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to systematically examine the situation of FDHs in Hong Kong. The sample was formed by 1000 female domestic helpers from the Philippines and Indonesia. This study conducted face-to-face interviews with the recruited participants with an anonymous, standardized questionnaire. The social survey intended to gather quantitative data on, among other issues, the scope of domestic work, their typical working conditions of domestic workers, common labor violations and abuses, the organizations addressing the issues of domestic work and abuse, the negotiation with employers about social boundary, history of migration, the interaction with family members in home countries, health status. This study is expected to contribute to a more advanced understanding of domestic helpers in Hong Kong, and offer identification of existing challenges and recommended courses of action.

Eric Fong
Feinian Chen
Hang-yue Ngo
Lei Jin
Raees Begum Baig
Roger Y Chung
Sara Hua Zhong
Tim Liao
Yuying Tong