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Happiness Across Cultures pp 75–94Cite as

Quality of Life of an Asian Metropolis in a Governance Crisis: The Case of Hong Kong

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Part of the book series: Science Across Cultures: the History of Non-Western Science ((SACH,volume 6))

Abstract

This chapter addresses two research questions. First, amidst the context of a recent severe economic and governance crisis, as well as a subsequently robust economic rebound, what have been the perceptions of governance, social capital and quality of life in Hong Kong? Second, the theoretical literature has argued that social capital and perceived governance shapes quality of life. Can this be confirmed in the case of Hong Kong? After conducting a brief review of the history and development of Hong Kong, this chapter provides a detailed analysis of its perceived governance, social capital and quality of life. Then, it continues with a causal analysis that tests whether social capital and perceived governance has impacted quality of life in Hong Kong. Finally, the chapter ends with a discussion of the practical implications of these issues on Hong Kong’s future political development.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In entrepot trade, a member of a customs union charges lower tariffs to external nations to win trade, and then re-exports the same product tariff-free within the customs union.

  2. 2.

    See United Nations, Human development index 2007/2008 online at http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/.

  3. 3.

    See CIA Factbook 2008 via http://https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/hk.html. Education data are drawn from World Bank, http://ddp-ext.worldbank.org/ext/ddpreports/ViewSharedReport?%26CF=%26REPORT_ID=10803%26REQUEST_TYPE=VIEWADVANCED%26DIMENSIONS=83%26HF=N. When the gross school enrollment ratio indicator has a value greater than 100, it highlights the incidence of under-aged and/or over-aged enrolment. As for over-aged students, their presence may be explained by late entrance or the incidence of repetition. Literacy rate is drawn from UNESCO Institute via http://www.uis.unesco.org/TEMPLATE/html/Exceltables/education/View_Table_Literacy_Country_Age15+.xls.

  4. 4.

    Data on Hong Kong GDP is drawn from World Bank, World Development Report 2007/2008 at http://hdrstats.undp.org/indicators/5.html. Data on unemployment and inflation rates are found at International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook April 2008 database. Database can be downloaded from http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx.

  5. 5.

    See the Heritage Foundation online at http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/countries.cfm.

  6. 6.

    See WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ at http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109%26STORY=/www/story/10-22-2007/0004686818%26EDATE= accessed on November 12, 2007. The index is published in the November/December issue of Foreign Policy, 2007. The top twenty societies are: 1 Singapore, 6 Denmark, 11 Sweden, 16, New Zealand, 2 Hong Kong, 7 United States, 12 United Kingdom, 17 Norway, 3 Netherlands, 8 Canada, 13 Australia, 18 Finland, 4 Switzerland, 9 Jordan, 14 Austria, 19 Czech Republic, 5 Ireland, 10 Estonia, 15 Belgium, 20 Slovenia.

  7. 7.

    See WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ at http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-22-2007/0004686818&EDATE= accessed on November 12, 2007. The index is published in the November/December issue of Foreign Policy, 2007.

  8. 8.

    See World Bank, governance data online at http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/governance/govdata/.

  9. 9.

    A Gini coefficient is a numerical measure of inequality. A Gini coefficient of zero indicates perfect equality. When the Gini coefficient is 1.0, it shows the greatest inequality.

  10. 10.

    For details, please see http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/index_surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Ming Sing

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  1. Ming Sing
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Correspondence to Ming Sing .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hampshire College, West Street 893, Amherst, 01002, Massachusetts, USA

    Helaine Selin

  2. , Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Wai Tsui Crescent 10, Hong Kong, 2570 7110, Hong Kong SAR

    Gareth Davey

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Sing, M. (2012). Quality of Life of an Asian Metropolis in a Governance Crisis: The Case of Hong Kong. In: Selin, H., Davey, G. (eds) Happiness Across Cultures. Science Across Cultures: the History of Non-Western Science, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2700-7_6

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