The impact of transition from British to Chinese rule on social service delivery systems in Hong Kong

In: Policy & politics, Band 47, Heft 2, S. 331-352

Abstract

One of the consequences of the transition from British to Chinese rule in Hong Kong has been the development of parallel social service delivery systems. On the one hand, the welfare bureaucracy is characterised by contractual relationships between the government and nonprofit organisations and is shaped by western ideas associated with new public management. On the other hand, the political machine is composed of locally elected representatives, community-based organisations (CBOs) and local residents and reflects traits of Chinese communism. This article investigates the interactions and strategies adopted by actors in these two systems in their attempt to control the delivery of social services. Crucially, it explores how these two systems interact and the impact on policy implementation. Evidence shows that CBOs provide a critical brokering role between elected political officials, the public and nonprofit organisations that is critical to maintaining the functionality of Hong Kong's parallel social service delivery systems.