Social Policy in Hong Kong provides for the first time a comprehensive and critical analysis of social policy in Hong Kong. It shows that Hong Kong is far from being a simple free market economy. In many areas, Hong Kong has highly developed social policies which make a major contribution to the quality of life of its citizens.An introductory chapter provides background information on the economic, social and political structure of the region. Subsequent chapters cover issues such as health, housing, education, poverty and social security, social care, transport and labour protection. A concluding chapter draws out the essential nature of the Hong Kong approach and constructs a balance sheet of success and failure.

With Hong Kong becoming a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997, this timely book describes social policy in the territory at the end of an era.