Mainlandization, the ICAC, and the Seriousness Attached by Local Politicians to Corruption in Post-1997 Hong Kong

Li, Li; Lo, T. Wing

doi:10.1177/0306624x16686570

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Under the convergence, Hong Kong has experienced drastic changes in public policies, economics, society, and culture. Some authors (Hui and Lo, 2015 ; Li and Lo, 2018 ) have even used the term “mainlandization” to describe the process of Mainland China absorbing Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong have experienced an invasion shock—have felt astonished, offended, and overwhelmed—by the influx of mainland visitors, who have retained their culture and moral codes (Pyvis and Chapman, 2005 ), and thus regarded mainlanders as threatening invaders.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young people’s perceptions of the challenges and opportunities during the Mainland China–Hong Kong convergence

Chan

Lee

et al. 2023

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

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Since the handover of the sovereignty of Hong Kong from Britain to China in 1997, convergence between Mainland China and Hong Kong has gradually emerged. During this process, young people have engaged in demonstrations to express their dissatisfaction with government policies and limited socio-economic progression. However, the underlying reasons for their dissatisfaction have not been fully investigated. This study investigates their perceived challenges and opportunities during the convergence, with the objective of identifying the factors affecting the Mainland China–Hong Kong convergence and examining young people’s perceived challenges and opportunities during the convergence. Mixed research methods of focus groups and a survey were adopted. Ten focus groups with 83 participants were conducted to collect qualitative data on the factors relating to convergence. Based on the qualitative data, a questionnaire was constructed to investigate young people’s perceived challenges and opportunities during the convergence, using a sample of 1253 young people. Ordinary least-squares regression was applied to analyse the relationships among identified factors. The study found that Hong Kong’s youth tended to regard the Mainland China–Hong Kong convergence as an opportunity for socio-economic progression, and they identified three challenges during the convergence. It also revealed that young people’s higher education, perceived housing challenges, and perceived socio-economic challenges are negatively related to the convergence, whereas their perceived challenges associated with entrepreneurship and innovation are positively related to the convergence. The development of more well-balanced and mutually beneficial policies that satisfy the needs of young people will lead to a higher acceptance of the convergence. As such, young people will be more willing to embrace the opportunities and face the challenges brought about by the convergence, resulting in a more harmonious society and socio-economic progression.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young people’s perceptions of the challenges and opportunities during the Mainland China–Hong Kong convergence

Chan

Lee

et al. 2023

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…But Wong (2003) observed that "mainlandization" was introducing new tensions between formal institutions and the Chinese-style political system that had begun to emerge. More recent analyses point to a gradual but steady deterioration in enforcement and prevention, a parallel decline in the quality of ICAC management and internal coordination, and the growth of high-level collusion in the economy (Smart, 2018) along with favouritism and conflicts of interest (Li and Lo, 2018). Tso (2018), for example, recounts several high-level scandals occurring between 2013 and 2018, including the dismissal in 2016 of a senior ICAC investigator, Rebecca Li, for her alleged "underperformance".…”

Section: Pap 252mentioning

confidence: 99%

It takes a whole society: why Hong Kong’s ICAC cannot succeed alone

Johnston

2022

PAP

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PurposeTo show that establishing an anti-corruption agency (ACA), by itself, is not likely to be a successful anti-corruption strategy. Instead, a solid base of social trust, participation, and support is just as essential as creating an ACA with significant powers and resources.Design/methodology/approachThis is a historical review of the origins and development of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong, and an assessment of its three-pronged approach strategy at both strategic and tactical levels.FindingsAn ACA requires broad and deep social support and participation if it is to succeed. That the ICAC remains nearly unique in developing such a base of support provides important lessons for those countries with ineffective ACAs.Originality/valueA reassessment of the ICAC after a half-century shows that the Hong Kong case, despite its familiarity, has much to teach us if we understand it in its broadest implications.

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Differential public support and the independence of anti-corruption agencies

Xu,

2023

Eur. Pol. Sci. Rev.

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Specialized anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) aim to address corruption problems when conventional institutional mechanisms are dysfunctional. Yet, we still lack thorough understanding of the conditions that enable ACAs to withstand undue influences of the overarching political regime. Informed by the judicial politics literature, we examine the value of public opinion in empowering ACAs. Leveraging the evolving political conditions of Hong Kong, we argue that a lack of public support for other government organs offers opportunities for an ACA to distinguish itself from the rest of the regime and establish operational independence. We find that a signature ACA of Hong Kong, created by the British colonial government, has been uniquely sensitive to public complaints of corruption. The agency is the most responsive when other government branches are perceived to be lacking integrity. Also, negative appraisals of the political regime encourage the ACA’s institutional functions and increase the degree of enforcement discretion entrusted to it. Our findings suggest a mechanism of ACA empowerment whereby the public is committed to sustaining agency independence because of their distrust and the unpopularity of other government organs. Therefore, potential institutional threats posed by an unpopular regime to the ACA may actually strengthen the latter’s power and autonomy.

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Mainlandization, the ICAC, and the Seriousness Attached by Local Politicians to Corruption in Post-1997 Hong Kong

Cited by 4 publications

References 36 publications

Young people’s perceptions of the challenges and opportunities during the Mainland China–Hong Kong convergence

Young people’s perceptions of the challenges and opportunities during the Mainland China–Hong Kong convergence

It takes a whole society: why Hong Kong’s ICAC cannot succeed alone

Differential public support and the independence of anti-corruption agencies

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