Hong Kong: Ruling principles of the government and responses of social work education and practice

This chapter discusses the responses of social work practices and education in Hong Kong to the government’s strategy for handling the contradictory relationship between social welfare and capitalism. This strategy aims to reduce the challenges of social welfare to the government’s ruling principles concerning low direct tax, budget surplus, subordination of social policy to economic policy and strong government. With reference to different branches of social work knowledge and values, social workers have diverse responses: some practice in accordance with the government’s strategy; some question the desirability of its associated principles; and some choose to practice outside Hong Kong.