Hong Kong's Mismanagement: Social Distortion Caused by Blind Faith in Market Principles (Visionary Series from Asia)

Recommended by Tadashi Matsuo (Professor, Ritsumeikan University)! "Fiscal austerity, civil service cuts, and preferential treatment for the business community under a corporate management model. I've heard all of this somewhere before!"

The tone of discussion in Japan regarding the Hong Kong democracy movement is often based on the perception that China's forceful undermining of the One Country, Two Systems policy is to blame. However, little is said about the underlying demand for democratization, the deep dissatisfaction of citizens whose quality of life has declined as a result of minimal regulation and income redistribution that has favored the business community since the colonial era.

This book vividly depicts, based on government documents and media reports, the conflicts between the Hong Kong government and civil servants over their emphasis on market principles, as well as the suffering of citizens who have been negatively affected by these policies, using a wealth of examples from building regulations, housing policy, and the higher education system. Developed countries such as Japan, the West, and other countries that have lost their economic vitality due to regulation and excessive income redistribution have also adopted neoliberal policies over the past few decades, but it shows that they need to fully consider the side effects described in this book. The book also explores Hong Kong's relationship with mainland China, portraying how the Hong Kong government has currying favor with Beijing for economic gain, while also portraying Beijing's high regard for Hong Kong, demonstrating the complex relationship between the two sides.

Can Hong Kong's world-renowned laissez-faire economic strength and resilience be sustained through this crisis? This book carefully examines Hong Kong's domestic politics and serves as a premier resource for understanding the dark side of neoliberalism, a global trend over the past few decades.

[Main Table of Contents] Preface: Introduction Chapter 1: The Basic Law: Stolen Rights Chapter 2: The Failure of the High Bureaucracy in Public Services Chapter 3: Private Housing Under Threat Chapter 4: From Illegal Barracks to "Hidden" Slums Chapter 5: Lost Housing Sites Chapter 6: Students at the Mercy of the Market Chapter 7: Lives at Risk Chapter 8: Mismanagement on the Mainland Epilogue: Conclusion