The two-year study, led by academics at the Hong Kong Institute of Education and the University of Bristol, will examine whether the introduction of recent policies, such as the minimum wage legislation, have significantly improved people’s living standards.
This research will be supported by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and will assess the extent and nature of poverty and social exclusion in Hong Kong.
This new project is funded by University Grants Committee of Hong Kong and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The investigation will be led by Dr Maggie Lau and Professor David Gordon.
Professor Mok Ka Ho, Dean for the Faculty of Social Science at the Hong Kong Institute of Education said: “I am delighted that this major new research project will build upon our already strong international collaboration between Hong Kong and UK academics on the important topic of reducing poverty and exclusion.”
Professor David Gordon, Director of the Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research at the University of Bristol, said: “All the governments of the world have recognised the need to reduce, and eventually eradicate, poverty during the 21st century. New and innovative research is needed into the causes and solutions to poverty so as to provide policy makers with the key evidence they require. This research project will provide up-to-date and scientifically rigorous information on poverty and exclusion in Hong Kong.”
Mr Chua Hoi Wai, Business Director (Policy Advocacy and Social Enterprise) of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service welcomed the collaboration with the academic community and said: “This study represents a unique opportunity to track changes in people’s circumstances over time and facilitate policy advocacy in the crucial area of poverty alleviation.”
The research project will:
- Develop a new poverty and social exclusion survey and enhance collaboration between researchers in Hong Kong and Britain
- Improve the measurement of poverty, deprivation, social exclusion and standard of living in the Chinese context
- Conduct policy-relevant analyses of interest to both the general public and government
Dr Maggie Lau, the project’s Principle Investigator in Hong Kong welcomed the opportunity to work with the Bristol University team and other national and international experts. She said: “The collaboration will advance the measurement of poverty and exclusion in the Chinese context by using state-of-the art methodology.”
Dr Christina Pantazis, from the University of Bristol, said: “The study represents an important opportunity to update and improve knowledge about poverty and exclusion in Hong Kong and also provides evidence for regional and international comparisons.”