Hong Kong 2012
Ends: 31 Jul 2012
Supervisor: Bonnie McEwan
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: Global Governance, Media Advocacy in the Global Public Sphere
Hong Kong: Human Rights, Migration, and Democracy
2012 Spring/Summer Hong Kong Syllabus
Revised Spring/Summer Schedule. ADDENDUM TO SYLLABUS!
Faculty Country Coordinator: Bonnie McEwan
Context: 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 sizeable 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.
Program Description:
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 have accomodate 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.
Potential Internship Organizations:
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
Photos: Broadcasting Democracy by Diego Senior and all others by Erin O'Rourke