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CCCH9033 China: Culture, State and Society
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Course Description
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set up by the United Nations in 2015 to “achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” In response to the SDGs, this course explores how Hong Kong responds and reacts to various issues related to sustainable urban living. As a global city with unique cultural, historical, economic and political setups, sustainability is a pressing concern and holds the key to the long-term urban development of Hong Kong. The emphasis of the course is on understanding sustainable urban development in the context of a high-density, market-oriented Asian world city.
Urban sustainability is more than an environmental concept: It also includes the ethical utilization of resources, geographical equity, both inter- and intra-generational equity; as well as touching upon such social, economic and political issues, accommodating multi-cultural and diversified aspirations, ensuring public engagement and nurturing public participation and partnership in the development process. The course offers a regional and comparative perspective to the understanding of the challenges that Hong Kong faces in maintaining her competitive role in the Greater Bay Area and the world.
[There will be a compulsory field trip in the semester.]
Course Learning Outcomes
On completing the course, students will be able to:
- Explain urban sustainability challenges at the global level and examine responses in Hong Kong.
- Use various sources of information to assess Hong Kong’s performance in terms of tackling various global issues.
- Apply knowledge generated in the cases of Hong Kong to understand and examine sustainable urban development issues in Chinese cities.
- Demonstrate a reflective response to global sustainability challenges in the context of Hong Kong and an awareness of the implications of such responses on the challenges China is facing in post-Covid-19 era.
Offer Semester and Day of Teaching
First semester (Sat)
Study Load
Activities | Number of hours |
Lectures | 20 |
Tutorials | 10 |
Fieldwork / Visits | 15 |
Reading / Self-study | 45 |
Video | 5 |
Assessment: In-class assessments | 15 |
Assessment: Presentation (incl preparation) | 40 |
Total: | 150 |
Assessment: 100% coursework
Assessment Tasks | Weighting |
Class participation | 10 |
Individual oral presentation on selected reading | 10 |
Reflection writing | 30 |
In-class quizzes | 10 |
Group project | 40 |
Required Reading
Required reading for tutorial sessions:
- Chiu, S., & Lui, T. –L. (2009). Hong Kong: Becoming a Chinese Global City. London: Routledge.
- Grayling, A. C. (2022). For the Good of the World: Is Global Agreement on Global Challengs Possible? Simon & Schuster.
- Lange, C. (2016). New Territories: Deconstructing and Constructing Countryside – The Great Divide of Rural and Urban In Hong Kong. Architectural Design, 86(4), 92–97.
- Li, A. H. (2017). E-commerce and Taobao Villages. China Perspectives, 2017(3), 57–62.
- Tang, W. S., Lee, J. W. Y., & Ng, M. K. (2012). Public engagement as a tool of hegemony: The case of designing the new central harbourfront in Hong Kong. Critical Sociology, 38(1), 89-106.
- Wan, C., Shen, G. Q., & Choi, S. (2018). Differential public support for waste management policy: The case of Hong Kong. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 477-488.
Course Co-ordinator and Teacher(s)
Course Co-ordinator | Contact |
Dr W. Li Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture |
Tel: 3917 2566 Email: wfli@hku.hk |
Teacher(s) | Contact |
Dr R.C.K. Chan Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture |
Tel: 3917 2277 Email: hrxucck@hku.hk |