New research centre aims to initiate debate and 'tease out' what really matters most to people
JOYCE NGjoyce.ng@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 12 November, 2015, 10:47pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 12 November, 2015, 10:47pm
This was important when the chief executive had failed to utter his governance philosophy clearly, said Lui Tai-lok (above), director of the Institute of Education's Academy of Hong Kong Studies, which was set up in the summer. Photo: Edmond So
The first academic research centre dedicated to Hong Kong will focus on governance issues and steer in-depth policy discussions still lacking a year after the city was rocked by the Occupy movement, an academic says.
This was important when the chief executive had failed to utter his governance philosophy clearly, said Lui Tai-lok, director of the Institute of Education's Academy of Hong Kong Studies, which was set up in the summer.
"The discussion in Hong Kong about the role of the government is weird. What is meant by 'appropriately proactive'?" Lui said, referring to Leung Chun-ying's catchphrase for economic development.
"This phrase can never be wrong - it's always good to do things appropriately. It's just an adjective. But how do you define the term? That's the question."
With academia in Hong Kong under pressure to "go international" under a government funding and assessment system that lays emphasis on frequency of publication in international journals, the centre would go against the trend and focus on Hong Kong, Lui told the Post.
Lui, who has taught sociology at the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University, said not much seemed to have changed a year after Occupy ended.
"For example, people do not seem to care about social issues such as retirement protection, though the government is conducting a public consultation. When we say there is political awakening among the people, is it just confined to our relationship with Beijing?
The academy is funded by internal resources and an anonymous donation of HK$5 million.
A polling centre run by 30 helpers, mostly students, will conduct telephone surveys regularly from February to "tease out the subjective values of Hongkongers" on issues such as education and social welfare.
For example, on the recent controversy over exams for primary pupils who are drilled intensively, Liu said parents should be asked if they preferred competitive-style education or one emphasising enjoyment.
Another focus would be a comparative study of Hong Kong and other Asian cities. Lui said that while Hongkongers were keen to compare their city with Singapore, the discussion was often superficial.
"People only think how good their housing policy is. But they haven't thought about the fundamental differences in our systems, including taxes and retirement protection."
Two post-doctoral fellows will start new research topics. And rather than staff steering all the projects, the academy could become a "platform" for outside scholars to collaborate, Lui said.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1878272/time-hong-kong-tackle-big-issues-year-after
