This study explores the nature of the policy gap – the discrepancy between intended and actual policy outcomes – resulting from the implementation of Practical School (PS) policy in four Hong Kong Practical Schools during the 1990s. The study closely examines the complexity of the policy formulation and implementation processes, and finds that a number of factors at different policy levels served to divert PS implementation from its intended outcome. These factors can be grouped into two main categories – those that were specific to individual policy levels (e.g., policy orientation at the Education Department (ED) level, institutional autonomy at the School Sponsoring Body (SSB) level, or principal leadership at the (school) level, and those relating to the interdependent relationships existing between and among the various levels. The factors in these categories interacted to shape and modify PS policy implementation, making the policy-practice relationship complex and unpredictable. Thus, this study suggests that policy gap can be seen as the outcome of the multilevel, intertwined interplay among policy implementation actors from various policy levels. This study also proposes that the observed policy gap was not necessarily undesirable; in fact, the modification of original implementation plans prevented, in some instances, overall policy failure. In the case of PS, modified policy implementation allowed all four Practical Schools to achieve certain policy goals, despite failing to achieve others. This study has found that whether a policy gap was perceived as desirable depended on how the modified implementation affected the interests of the various parties; thus, any given policy gap could be called undesirable, desirable, or both, depending on which party were asked. Finally, this study is particularly concerned with the views of policymakers, senior SSB administrators and principals, and their actions in response to policy demands. The study argues that policy gap varied depending on policymakers’ perceptions of the policy, the organizational characteristics of SSBs, and the contextual nature of the schools. In other words, whether implementation realized intended policy outcomes depended on how implementing actors interacted to steer policy either towards or away from its original course. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Trees are a valuable asset of our society, but little policy research has been conducted in this area at the university level. The policy in Hong Kong has changed from tree preservation to tree management due to repeated tree collapse incidents that have affected public safety and the harmony and sustainability of the environment and society. The Kingdon and Zahariadis multiple streams approach is found to be the most suitable analytical framework for the analysis of tree management policy in Hong Kong. The problem stream looks at why the problems occur, what they are, the magnitude of change in the conditions and why we need to do something about tree management. The policy stream looks at how to deal with and regulate tree management. The politics stream looks at what is done by whom in tree management policy. Finally, the aforementioned three streams are coupled by policy entrepreneurs using policy output so that the agenda can be set and the policy adopted. The tree management policy in Hong Kong is investigated and analysed through the lens of multiple streams theory and it is hoped that the information in this dissertation can offer a clearer understanding of the policy and its role in creating a better Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Desk-top research found that the performance of green building development in Hong Kong has lagged behind other countries or cities of similar international status. The main reason for that is the lack of green building policy to coordinate the existing measures. Hence, this dissertation aims to fill the gap by finding out whether green building policy should be implemented in Hong Kong and what instruments or tools should be included in the policy if it is formulated. Further to the focus study on four selected countries, i.e. Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, it is noted that an effective green building policy should contain a quantitative target as goal achievement and comprise mandatory instruments, economic instruments and information tools as policy options. After identifying some suitable policy options, a survey has been conducted to collect people’s views. Survey results supported that there is a need for the buildings in Hong Kong to be greener and for the Hong Kong government to formulate a set of green building policy. It is recommended that Hong Kong green building policy should include quantitative commitment for both new public and private buildings in short run; and extend to existing public and private buildings in long run. The government should keep reviewing and extending its mandatory requirements on green building design and energy performance, and introducing mandatory energy audit for disclosure of key consumption data for public viewing and full report during premises or building transactions. As mandatory energy audit is a fresh idea in Hong Kong and may not be easily accepted by citizens, the government should provide sufficient assistance at the teething stage when implementing it. To further promote green building development, it is suggested that the Hong Kong government should provide financial incentives, such as the provision of tax credits for green building investment and subsidy for upgrading energy performance of existing building. However, energy tax may not be a suitable option to implement at present in view of its necessity and respondents’ objections from the survey results. Apart from mandatory and economic instruments, it is opined that the Hong Kong government should allocate resources for research and development, and education for promoting green building development. This is also greatly supported by respondents according to the survey results. As green building may still be a new concept to many building practitioners in Hong Kong, the government should also set up a designated team to administer green building issues and provide a wide-spreading platform for knowledge exchange and experience sharing. Developing green building in Hong Kong not only requires commitments from the Administration and contributions from the stakeholders, but also the involvement of every citizen. With the support from everyone, this definitely can smoothen the formulation and implementation of green building policy, and make the built environment green and sustainable for the next generations to enjoy! / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Prior to 1985, individuals were generally not allowed to apply for public rental housing (PRH) on their own. In 1985, in order to response to the demand from the elderly and those affected by redevelopment or living in temporary housing areas, the restriction was released. The release of restriction attracts many one-person households to apply PRH. In 1989/90, applicants of age 18 to 24 occupied 4% of the newly registered Waiting List (WL) One-person Applications. But in 2004/05, the age group 18 to 24 applicants occupy 21% of the newly registered applications (Hong Kong Housing Authority, Housing Subsidised Committee SHC 58/2005, p.1 of Annex B). The Hong Kong Housing Authority found that the sharp increase number of Non-elderly One-person Applicants has adversely impacted to the 3 years rehousing performance pledge. It started to address the housing priority problem through the introduction of Quota and Points System (QPS) in September 2005. The Points System is based on two factors to assign points – the age of the applicant and whether the applicant is a PRH tenant or not. The priority of Non-elderly One-person WL applicants will be determined according to the points received. The more points the Applicant scores, the top priority and the earlier the Applicant will be offered a flat, subject to the fulfillment of all the other PRH eligibility criteria. Housing Authority sets an annual quota for Non-elderly One-person Applicants. This study aims at reviewing and evaluating the equitable issue of QPS. Equity is to ensure fairness of treatment between households. QPS is an important policy to rationalize housing priority to the Non-elderly One-person Applicants under scarce public housing resources. This study approaches the equity issue from both a theoretical analysis and a qualitative measurement by questionnaire survey. Based on various literature reviews, the concept of justice, equity, equality and housing needs are elaborated in theoretical analysis. Also, the experience of public housing application in some developed countries is described. The Points System of developed countries and Fordham’s suitability test are taken into account on setting of questionnaire. Most of the findings under theoretical analysis are agreed with the findings from the questionnaire survey. This study focuses on analysis in equity issue of QPS and to suggest recommendations to improve the equity among applicants. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Similar to many other countries, in Hong Kong, housing has long been a very difficult issue to manage. It is also one of the pressing social issues that the government has to face with urgently and tactfully. Given by the exorbitant high property prices and landlords increase their properties rent in recent years, the current problem in Hong Kong is a great deal number of people, especially the young generation, cannot afford to buy home or even rent apartment in private property market. Thinking despairingly that home-owning is an unrealistic dream, most people applied for Public Rental Housing as their last resort to be housed. This sort of thinking is somewhat shown by the growing number of applicants in Waiting List for public rental housing flats. The growing number of applicants, by and large, indicating the demand of subsidized housing has never been subsided and also meant applicants need to wait much longer for allocation. Unfortunately, supply of flats has persistently fallen short of demand. There has been no adequate increase in subsidized flats’ supply in the past few years. The number of completed flats in 2012 is really not comparable with the number of applicants in the queue for public housing. Even, by adding the 15,000 new units each year as committed by the chief executive Mr. CY LEUNG, the public housing stock still cannot effectively satisfy the overwhelming demand of public rental housing. In view of the lack of supply of new flats, there has been demanded that the Government should act creatively to provide more flats to ensure quick allocation. Under this circumstance, the better utilization of existing PRH stock is becoming more essential and important. It is not hard to find from various sources that there are already many studies in evaluating the efficacy of the so called “well-off tenants policies”, such as the Housing Subsidy Policy, while little studies touch on the issue of under-occupation situation of public flats –an rather unfair phenomenon that the average living density of a household is more than allowed. Under-occupation policy is the policy implemented by the Housing Authority for maximizing the rational utilization of public housing resources so that larger subsidized flats can be recovered and reallocated to those in genuine needs and reducing unnecessary wastage of precious housing resources. In view of this, the dissertation is going to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy on under-occupation implemented by Housing Authority. In order to response the criticism on the equity and fairness towards the under-occupation issue, the dissertation is also written with an aim to evaluate these aspects and explores with objective assessment by adopting qualitative research methods, such as surveys and questionnaires. Questionnaires will be dispatched to residents in various housing estates to collect necessary information and opinions for analysis the equity and effectiveness of the policy. Hypothetical analysis and literature reviews will also be conducted through comparing different related official publications and journals. This dissertation is going to evaluate, based on empirical study and literature review, the implication and effectiveness of the policy adopted by Housing Authority to tackle on the problem of under-occupation of public rental housing flats and, with great ambition, make viable suggestions for the authority to cogitate and refine the performance of the policy. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning