On 20 November 2025, the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) of HSUHK invited Dr Chris LI and Prof Kim-ming LEE for a talk on the “Evolution of Labor Market Policy in Hong Kong: a Variety of Capitalism Perspective.”
Dr Li and Prof Lee examined the evolution of Hong Kong’s labor market through a revised Varieties of Capitalism (VoC) framework. They argued that Hong Kong’s historical legacy as a classic Liberal Market Economy, deeply shaped by colonial-era “positive non-interventionism,” has created structural, long-term challenges. This left the city with a weak social safety net and minimal institutional protections for workers. The speakers traced how these historical vulnerabilities persisted as the economy transitioned through distinct phases, from the contested neoliberalism to a period of strategic re-orientation aligning with China mainland’s national development goals.
The talk highlighted that recent shifts in policies have created a “state-led hybridization” phase. In this current era, labor policy is used as a strategic tool to import high-skilled talent for initiatives like the Greater Bay Area, while largely overlooking the needs of the local low-skilled workforce. Their research concludes that these policies are creating a dualized labor market, deepening inequalities while integrating Hong Kong into China mainland’s strategic ambitions.
