5,273 research outputs found
Mosses new to Hong Kong (1)
No full textTen moss species - Garkea flexuosa (Griffith) Marg. & Nork., Campylopus laxitextus Lac., Fissidens dubius P. Beauv., Fissidens ceylonensis Dozy & Molk, Fissidens maceratus Mitt., Philonotis thwaitesii Mitt., Isopterygium minutirameum (C. Muell.)Jaeg., Homalia trichomanoides (Hedw.) B.S.G., Pogonatum neesii (C. Muell.) Dozyand Polytrichum formosum Hedw. are reported new to Hong Kong. Among them, five are new to Guangdong Province of China
The Value of Information in International Trade: Gains to Outsourcing through Hong Kong
No full textIn this paper, we estimate the benefits to countries that purchase goods from China of having access to intermediary services provided by Hong Kong. Traders in Hong Kong supply information on markets and producers in China, which provides welfare gains to foreign firms using these services. During the 1990s, Hong Kong intermediated about half of the goods that China exported to the rest of the world. Our results suggests that gains to intermediary services provided by Hong Kong equal 16% of the value of goods that China exports to other countries through Hong Kong, and range between 10% and 21% of this export value for various manufacturing goods and across different years.
Responding to environment: The experience of strategic planning of non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.In recent years, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Hong Kong have been facing tremendous challenges and demands from both the external environment and internal administrative mechanisms. Regarding the external environment, Hong Kong is facing a major political change in 1997 as its sovereignty will be returned to Mainland China. However, it is perceived that there are many differences in both the conceptions and the administrative systems of both Hong Kong and China. In view of the task environment, as opposed to the general environment, the Social Welfare Department is now conducting a `subvention review' exercise. Such an exercise attempts to re-examine the current funding arrangements and the partnership relationship between the government and the NGOs. Service contracts between the funder and the service providers are recommended as the future mode of operation in the subvention policy. In addition, the NGOs will also be required to conform to a list of performance standards which are categorised into four major dimensions, namely, the provision of information, service management, the management of clients and a respect for clients' rights. Not only the rise of managerialism, but public accountability and the empowerment of clients are also perceived as prominent issues affecting the administrators.
Based on a research study conducted by the author, this paper will examine the above issues in detail. It also examines the value orientations of the social work administrators in the voluntary sector during their decision-making processes. Various organization theories such as contingency theory, political economy and resources dependency perspective are adopted as the organizing framework for the analysis. Patterns of service development and patterns of management development have been constructed after examining twenty-five voluntary organizations. Four domains of strategic planning and management are covered in the study, including Domain Enlargement mode, Domain Enhancement mode, Domain Restructuring mode and Domain Reduction mode. A questionnaire was also constructed in order to examine the views of the chief executives in terms of their choices of strategies and approaches in responding to environmental changes, with respect to the organizational attributes, including organization size, complexity of service nature, religious background, and level of subvention from government funding
Comparing quality of public primary care between Hong Kong and Shanghai using validated patient assessment tools.
No full textOBJECTIVES: Primary care is the key element of health reform in China. The objective of this study was to compare patient assessed quality of public primary care between Hong Kong, a city with established primary care environment influenced by its colonial history, and Shanghai, a city leading primary care reform in Mainland China; and to measure the equity of care in the two cities. METHODS: Cross sectional stratified random sampling surveys were conducted in 2011. Data were collected from 1,994 respondents in Hong Kong and 811 respondents in Shanghai. A validated Chinese version of the primary care assessment tool was employed to assess perceived quality of primary care with respect to socioeconomic characteristics and health status. RESULTS: We analyzed 391 and 725 respondents in Hong Kong and Shanghai, respectively, who were regular public primary care users. Respondents in Hong Kong reported significant lower scores in first contact accessibility (1.59 vs. 2.15), continuity of care (2.33 vs. 3.10), coordination of information (2.84 vs. 3.64), comprehensiveness service availability (2.43 vs. 3.31), comprehensiveness service provided (2.11 vs. 2.40), and the total score (23.40 vs. 27.40), but higher scores in first contact utilization (3.15 vs. 2.54) and coordination of services (2.67 vs. 2.40) when compared with those in Shanghai. Respondents with higher income reported a significantly higher total primary care score in Hong Kong, but not in Shanghai. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents in Shanghai reported better quality of public primary care than those in Hong Kong, while quality of public primary care tended to be more equitable in Shanghai
Stock Market Integration Between the Hong Kong SAR and the People's Republic of China - the Use of a Revised 'H' Share Model and Enhanced Institutional Support
No full textPhDBilateral, multilateral and regional linkages between stock exchanges generate
increased sources of funds, investor return and product choice. Such
associations can also lower transaction costs in both initial listing and
subsequent trading, increase liquidity more generally in the secondary market
and enhance investor protection and confidence in the stability and reputation
of the market and the status of companies listed on the market. This thesis
argues that the integration of the stock markets between The Special
Administrative Region of Hong Kong ("Hong Kong") and the People's
Republic of China (CTRC) is therefore a desirable objective and investigates
how a more successful and substantial degree of integration could be achieved
in this area.
Integration, in particular, requires harmonization of laws and regulations. In
1993,H shares issued by PRC companies were first allowed to cross-list on the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This listing was made possible by the
introduction of a new set of legal and operational rules promulgated in both the
PRC and Hong Kong.
This thesis expounds four models of integration, the H Share Model, the
System Harmonization Model, the Mixed Harmonization and Mutual
Recognition Model, and the Full Harmonization Model and argues that H share
regulations are an effective way to further integration despite problems
inherited from the PRC's 'pre-open door' policy.
In considering other potential models, the European Union and the United
States capital market are also considered as potential models for further
integration of the PRC and Hong Kong stock markets despite the inherent
limitations of the latter model.
It is also proposed that enhanced institutional support can be used as an
effective means of accelerating the integration process. Investigating both the
feasibility and possible implementation of market integration within an
appropriate institutional framework ensures an autonomous, legal and
independent environment separate from the political realm
The evolution of citizenship education in nation-building in Singapore and Hong Kong
No full textCitizenship Education is a highly political agenda for politicians and governments, especially those of the emerging nations studied in transitology. Political circumstances that surround the birth of ล nation are inextricably tied up with the unique economic, social and even globalisation contexts that shape the formation of that particular nation. Citizenship education mirrors the political climate of such circumstances. A ruling government's policies and ideologies are often transmitted to the masses through education in the form of citizenship education in its evolving forms that take after the political orientations of the nation. A historical-comparative study of Singapore and Hong Kong is the focus of the thesis and a combined case in point. This historical-comparative approach presents a chronological and qualitative analysis of Singapore and Hong Kong that links the past to the present, and points to future direction on how citizenship education has transformed in its focus, dimensions, content, message and values. Theories of nationalism, nation-state and national identity provide a basis for the understanding of the political, economic and social factors that impact nation- building and the subsequent evolvement of Civic and Moral Education in Singapore and Hong Kong after independence. In an analysis of the content-domain of citizenship education, Singapore’s curriculum is shown to reflect the ruling party's ideologies infused through National Education, where the Singapore story is sacrosanct and has to be mastered by all students so that the continual survival instinct is preserved at ill times. Hong Kong covers more breadth with a curriculum that includes the history of China that can be taught critically and a Chinese cultural heritage element that is infused into all the Key Learning subjects. The Life Event Approach is also more practical and relevant to the students' appreciation of the more individual-growth values learnt. Singapore is identified as an Objective/Globalised nation-state with a parallel Objective/Globalised National Identity that has a predominantly strong political leadership and economic priority in its nation-building foundation. It recognizes the need to rise up to the global challenges ahead. Hong Kong has a combination of Objective/Subjective/Globalised region-state with a parallel Objective/Subjective/Globalised National Identity with China due to its cultural heritage component inherited from China and also the need to meet global challenges. The thesis demonstrates how education can be used as a channel to serve the ideologies of the politicians who have a direct stake in shaping the focus of the political content in citizenship education in building national identity. It also illustrates how the respective political circumstances, economic reasons, social contexts and globalisation challenges drive the evolvement of the citizenship education in both Singapore and Hong Kong
Construction of Hong-dae cultural district : cultural place, cultural policy and cultural politics
No full textCho M. Construction of Hong-dae cultural district : cultural place, cultural policy and cultural politics. Bielefeld (Germany): Bielefeld University; 2007.This dissertation examines how the process of creating the "Hong-dae cultural district" in Seoul has involved the mobilisation of various social groups and triggered the (re)institutionalisation of the meaning of "the cultural". It seeks to explicate how a cultural policy project can stimulate the emergence of social groups, which challenge existing policy provisions and laws and lead to the (re)institutionalisation of "Hong-dae culture". In so doing, the author will be able to simultaneously take account of the issues of agency, structure and culture by explicating the relationship between cultural policy and social change
Factors affecting motivation to learn English: the perspective of newly arrived Hong Kong students
No full textThe aim of the study is to examine and evaluate how socio-cultural factors and demographic characteristics of a group of newly arrived Hong Kong (NAHK) students affect their motivation to learn English in Hong Kong. This study is conceptualised based on Dornyei’s (1998) motivation framework and two additional components, parent and culture specific motivation components, are also added onto the framework in order to suit the purpose of this study. Data were collected from two complementary sources: questionnaire and interviews. Questionnaire items were constructed based on the modification of Dornyei's motivational framework and questionnaires were distributed to 109 NAHK students' to collect their views on learning English in Hong Kong. In- depth semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 10 students to further investigate their motivation to lean English. Statistical data found that teachers have the greatest impact on NAHK students’ motivation to learn English. This result poses important pedagogical implications and considerations to educators in Hong Kong when developing curriculum and choosing materials. Statistical results also revealed parents played the least significant role in motivating NAHK students to learn English. However, the semi-structured interviews revealed another side of the story although parents could not assist their children's English learning academically but they supported their children's English learning both spiritually and financially. Several demographic characteristics like gender, age and place of birth were found to be crucial in influencing NAHK students' English learning motivation. The study describes the NAHK students' motivation to learn English in the hope that lights can be shed on the current teaching and learning practices and suggest implications for practice so that learner diversity in Hong Kong English learning classrooms can be catered
An energy efficient approach for radon management in a HVAC environment: executive summary
No full textRadioactive radon gas, after being released from rocks, soils and building structures, can pose a significant health threat to the building occupants. This is of particular concern in tight HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) serviced buildings where there is re-circulating air with limited fresh air intake. A thorough survey was initiated at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 1996 and results indicate a radon average concentration of 107 Bq/m3, which is approximately 50% of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended standard (200 Bq/m3). About 10% of the measurements were in excess of this WHO limit, while 46% of the samples also showed average peak radon concentrations (264 Bq/m3) in excess of this WHO limit.
To overcome these elevated indoor radon concentrations, their characteristics at HKUST was studied. Radon level was found to increase linearly as a function of the length of the HVAC shut off period, and decrease exponentially upon system resumption. Radon level predictive models were developed after a series of room chamber experiments with modification factors defined to account for the indoor sinks in an effort to enhance the accuracy and applicability of the models.
Following a campus-wide energy audit, two energy efficient radon management approaches were derived from the predictive models and were subsequently integrated into the existing HKUST operations. The first was defined as an Active Radon Control Approach (ARCA), where HVAC operation schedules were modified to yield an energy saving potential of around HK$2.7 Million a year. ARCA is optimised to reduce the radon dose to the HKUST occupants following the radiation protection principle of "As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)", and with considerations of economical and operational constraints.
The other was a Passive Radon Control Approach (PRCA) using Polyurethane-based (P-u) paint to cover building material surfaces to reduce the radon emission
Motivating students attending a teacher education programme in Hong Kong using quality learning teams
No full textPurpose. In 1995, the Government of Hong Kong amalgamated six independent, Government sponsored Colleges of Education, which offered Certificate in Education courses, into the Hong Kong Institute of Education. The remit of the newly-formed, autonomous Institute was to attain university status and to upgrade courses to degree and post-degree level. Many of the existing staff remained with the newly-formed institute while a recruitment drive resulted in an increase in international lecturing staff. This study results from action research, undertaken by the author, to develop pedagogy suitable for both the international lecturing staff and the Chinese student teachers. The research set out to take advantage of the diverse backgrounds of the lecturing staff. Of the various pedagogic strategies employed by lecturing staff, the Total Quality Management (TQM) approach emerged as the most effective, promoting as it does a way for the students to plumb co-operatively the often difficult depths of what they are studying, as well as motivating them in their chosen career. The stringent examination system in Hong Kong, the lack of university places and the economic situation all play their part in determining the student population in the Institute of Education where students whose first choice is to enter the teaching profession could well be outnumbered by those who consider themselves without more attractive alternatives. In addition, the lecturing staff from overseas became aware of the Chinese culture of 'Shame’ among their students - the students who had failed were castigated and further marginalized by their family and friends. It was hoped that the employment of a TQM approach through the use of Quality Learning Teams would help to combat this 'shame' and, hopefully, increase the self-confidence of these 'shamed' students. The project's aim was to introduce and role-model a different pedagogic practice and to utilise constructivist-based pedagogy so that two major outcomes could be measured: (1) that student teachers would become active and confident learners who would themselves challenge their own pupils and (2) that colleagues outside the project could observe the usefulness of this alternative pedagogy and make use of the innovation in their own lecture rooms. This involved investigation of diverse aspects of teaching and learning. Research on individual areas has been quite extensive, but little research has been done in this particular area with regard to student teachers in Hong Kong and it is, therefore, the purpose of this study to add to existing knowledge, with specific emphasis on Quality Learning Teams. The rationale for the study was, on the one hand, the Hong Kong Special Administration (HKSAR) Government Educational Reforms, but also - and more importantly for the lecturers concerned - the search for a means to inculcate a culture of co-operative learning within the student-teacher body, as well as a means for international lecturing staff to create an effective pedagogy, utilizing both mother tongue and English as languages of instruction. Major Findings. The findings of the study indicated that student learning was enhanced by using Quality Learning Teams. This was demonstrated by the overall module results which showed higher module grades for the groups who were subjected to the innovative pedagogy than for those groups who were subjected to the normal 'traditional' pedagogy. Student self-esteem, self-confidence, trust in peers, and a work ethos of self-sufficiency developed amongst the majority of student teachers. Language skills were enhanced and strategies for learning were improved. It is hoped that the results of this study will assist in the future planning of courses in the education of student-teachers and in creating a more 'risk-taking' culture within the lecturing staff at the Institute
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