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Neither Welfare State nor Welfare Society: The Case of Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2002

Chack-kie Wong ,
Kenneth Kin-lam Chau  and
Timothy Ka-ying Wong
Chack-kie Wong
Affiliation:
Social Work Department, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Kenneth Kin-lam Chau
Affiliation:
Social Work Department, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Timothy Ka-ying Wong
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Email address: [email protected]
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Abstract

This article points to the simple fact that modern welfare systems are neither welfare states nor are they welfare societies. In reality, they are a combination of both. The current interpretation of the supposed dichotomy of these two institutions has inhibited our understanding of reality. Consequently, this has obscured the complicated ways in which the state and the society have worked together to harmonize the needs for social protection and active citizenship. In the present article, the example of a Chinese welfare system has been used to illustrate that even a welfare system usually not regarded as a welfare state can develop strong universal welfare state programmes. In order to demonstrate the significance of this situation, findings related to public attitudes have been cited to reflect the support of both policy assumptions underlying social protection and active citizenship in the welfare system that is under review.

Type
Research Article
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , October 2002 , pp. 293 - 301
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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