Social Policy Development

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3. Phase 2: Partial Social Policy (1953-1970) 3.1 Overview of Social policy in Phase 2 Since 1950s, the colonial government began to highlight the importance of social policy planning. In this phase, there were some modest improvements in social policy and a slight departure from the traditional residual social policy. Though the degree of improvement was not tremendous, it could be considered as a milestone of the social policy development in the history of Hong Kong, in terms of education, public housing and medicine. 3.1.1 Education In Phase 2, the education goal of the government was to have primary education for all children by 1961. Yet there was still a shortage by 1961. Although the government tried to improve the education level …show more content…

First, the British government had a lowered fear of Hong Kong being returned to China. After the surrender of Japan in the World War in 1945, the recovery of Hong Kong was not the first priority of China to concern with because she was preoccupied with the fighting with the Communist forces. The victory of the Communists in the civil war further lowered the fear, as taking back Taiwan was superior to the recovery of Hong Kong for the Communists. At the same time, there was a change in Britain’s attitude towards maintaining Hong Kong. Its willingness to keep the colony was more strengthen at the moment. Troop reinforcements were sent by the British to Hong Kong during the Korean War to avoid invasions by the People’s Liberation Army. Moreover, during the period of time in Phase 2, in order to oppose the spread of communism, Britain became a “worthwhile ally” to the US in a strategic partnership. The British thus saw more long-term benefits of keeping Hong Kong, which had become a “fortress colony” against communism. Therefore, there was an increase in the tendency of the colonial government to invest more resources in improving the social welfare of Hong …show more content…

The colonial government intended to increase the public expenditure in the social welfare fraction. From 1974 to 1975, the money spent on social welfare was increased from 212.5 million to 350.5 million. It was thus well known as the ‘”golden era” for a comprehensive development of social policy in Hong Kong. Additional to the three aspects improved in Phase 2, which were education, public housing and medical services, there were also involvements of voluntary association. The degree of expansion of all the four aspects was much more greater than that in Phase

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