In collaboration with Lingnan University and National Taiwan University (NTU), The Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) of HSUHK co-organized a symposium titled “The Transformation of East Asian Welfare States in the Post COVID 19 Era: Challenges, Opportunities and Futures.” The event took place at NTU in Taipei and brought together speakers and participants from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Over the course of two days, the symposium delved into various issues related to East Asian welfare states.
Professor Ka-Ho Mok from Lingnan University delivered a keynote speech at the symposium, exploring the topic of “Managing the rise of older adults in Hong Kong: Towards a community-based integrated care and health approach in the post-COVID-19 crisis era.” Professor Mok’s presentation examined the quest for a new social governance model to support the growing elderly population in Hong Kong.
Members of our CPPR presented papers focusing on different subjects during the symposium. Dr Chi-Kit Chan shared insights into media narratives surrounding the post-COVID Chinese economy, while Dr. Rami Chan discussed the motivations behind emigration in the post-COVID period. Dr Ying-Ho Kwong compared the utilisation of contact tracing technology in several Asian countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Dr Gary Tang and Dr Eva Hung presented a paper addressing the impact of people’s perception of work precarity on their neoliberal orientation.
Furthermore, the symposium marked the launch of the Inter-university Consortium for Social Change, Wellbeing, and Social Policy Studies, jointly established by HSUHK, Lingnan University, and NTU. The Consortium aims to promote regional and international comparative research on social development and social policy in East Asia. It offers an open platform for academics and researchers to engage in research, symposia, conferences, student and staff exchanges, and collaborative research projects. Core partners of the Consortium include Sun Yat Sen University, University of New South Wales, and National Chung Cheng University. The Consortium welcomes participation from other institutions in East Asia and plans to host the next symposium in Hong Kong.
