Country Context
Photo by Erin O’Rourke
Hong Kong is a truly unique hybrid metropolis drawing on its colonial legacy of the rule of law, stable investment climate, and well-educated population to function as the center of concentric circles comprising the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the dynamic Pearl River Delta region of Hong Kong-Shenzen-Macau-Zhuhai-Guangzho, China (including Taiwan), and Southeast Asia. The unique postcolonial position of Hong Kong, with a commitment to the rule of law and a measure of civil liberties, has resulted in a clustering of NGOs dedicated to human rights in China, Asia, and the world.
Hong Kong is simultaneously a democratic experiment; a major global node for trade, business, and finance; a center for cultural production; the foremost location for NGOs operating in Asia dealing with human rights, urban issues, environmental concerns, and civil society issues; and a media hub with offices of over 130 international media organizations and a vibrant press in English and Chinese. It is an exceedingly cosmopolitan city due to both international business activity and migrant labor. Though the largest group by far is ethnically Chinese, there are large numbers of expatriates from the U.S., Western Europe, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka and a sizable population of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis who are citizens of the Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong is very safe and boasts arguably the best public transportation network in the world.
Project Context
The GPIA Hong Kong program will be based at the City University of Hong Kong. The program is focused on human rights and migration but every year we accommodate students with interests in environment, sustainability, democracy, etc.
The program will comprise an internship, a course that meets once a week, and some optional group outings. The Faculty Coordinator will match student interests with specific internship opportunities as best possible.
Partner Organizations
Photo by Erin O’Rourke
Asian Human Rights Commission
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL)
Asian Migrant Center
Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants
Hong Kong Democratic Foundation
Zi-Teng
Helpers for Domestic Helpers
Asian Migrants Center (AMC)
Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
The Climate Group
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
Christian Action
Amnesty International
Kelly Support Group
China Labour Bulletin
Designing Hong Kong
Living Arrangements
Students will be living in university dorms.
Program Info and Requirements
Begins: 1 Jun 2013
Ends: 31 Jul 2013
Supervisor: TBD
Language Requirement: No language requirement but if students feel that a little knowledge of Cantonese would allow them to appreciate Hong Kong more fully they are encouraged to audit Cantonese language classes.
Required courses: TBD
Concentrations: Governance and Rights, Cities and Social Justice, Development, Conflict and Security, Media and Culture
Syllabus: Forthcoming