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Civil Society Index

HKSAR ReportIntroduction

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CSI Research Team Mr. Chua Hoi-wai, (Project coordinator)

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Dr. Joseph Chan, (Research coordinator)

The University of Hong Kong Dr. Elaine Chan

The University of Hong Kong Dr. Chan Kam-tong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Dr. Chan Kin-man

The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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Civil Society Index (CSI) Developed by CIVICUS, an international

NGO based in New York and Johannesburg

http://www.civicus.org/

More than 60 countries/cities have signed up for this research

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CSI Purpose To chart the state of civil society

To assist civil society’s development

To strengthen civil society’s role in governance and development

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CSI Outputs A Civil Society Diamond or Index

A Civil Society Report

A Stakeholders Workshop

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CSI Expected Outcomes Increased knowledge on the state of civil

society in Hong Kong and globally

Enhanced linkages and networks between civil society stakeholders

Greater common understanding of the state of civil society among stakeholders

Strengthened research capacity of civil society support organizations

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Definition of civil society Civil Society is defined as

“the arena, outside of the family, the government, and the market where people associate to advance common interests.”

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Civil society

State

Market Family

Civil society

Civil Society Arena’s Fuzzy Boundaries

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Civil society Civil society consists of

Civil society organizations (CSOs)

Informal groups and activities

Social movements

Individual citizens’ volunteering and philanthropic activities

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Assessing the State of Civil Society

• Structure: What is the internal make-up of civil society?  

• Environment: What is the political, socio-economic, cultural and legal environment in which civil society exists?  

• Values: Does civil society practice and promote positive social values?

• Impact: What is the impact of civil society on governance & development?

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Structure

Environment

Impact

Values

Civil Society Diamond

0

1

2

3

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Scoring methodology

CSI Diamond

Dimensional Scores

Indicator Scores

Plotting

Averaging

AG Scoring Exercise

Data sources

Secondary data

Media review

Reg. Stakeholder consultations

Fact finding

Community sample

CSI Diamond

Dimensional Scores

Indicator Scores

Plotting

Averaging

Data sources

Secondary data

Media review

Reg. Stakeholder consultations

Fact finding

Community sample

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Research Methods and Data CSO questionnaire survey CSO stakeholder consultations Media review Policy case studies CSR study Secondary data (2 door-to-door surveys

and others)

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CSO Questionnaire Survey CSO Survey

Conducted from Feb – Jun 2005 Stratified sampling Survey questions provided by Civicus 1132 organizations selected 802 responded Response rate: 70.85% Questions about CSO perceptions of the four

dimensions of CS in HK

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CSO Questionnaire SurveyGroups No. %

Arts and culture 144 17.9 Civic and advocacy 35 4.3 District/community-Based 184 22.9 Education and research 110 13.7 Environment 18 2.3 Health services 24 3.0 Intern’al/cross-boundary 42 5.2

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CSO Questionnaire Survey8. Groups No. %9. Law & legal services 14 1.710. Philanthropic & Intermediaries 49 6.111. Politics 3 0.412. Professional, industry,

business & trade unions 76 9.512. Religion 34 4.213. Sports 40 5.014. Welfare services 30 3.8

Total 802 100.0

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Civil Society Stakeholder Consultations Representatives of 28 organizations from

14 categories of CSOs were interviewed (either individually or in group)

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Media Review Conducted between May-June 2004 and Nov –

Dec 2004. Oriental Daily, Ming Pao, TVB news (6:30-7:00pm) Questions:

How favorable/unfavorable does the media report on civil society issues?

How prominent is civil society activity being reported?

What types of stories/issues are most frequent?

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Policy Case Studies-Impact of CS The budgetary process (post 1997)

Youth unemployment (post 1997)

The legislation of Article 23 (2002)

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Policy Case Studies Documentary research and interviews 21 individuals interviewed Impact in 4 senses:

Changes in policy Changes in the policy-making process Changes in political institutions involved Changes in public attitudes towards the

issue “Empowerment” or “capacity building” of

stakeholders

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Corporate Social Responsibility Study CSR study

10 largest listed companies Reviewed their annual reports and related

documents Questions about the companies’ understanding

and practices of CSR

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Corporate Social Responsibility StudyCLP Holdings Ltd [Utilities]Wharf (Holdings) Ltd [Consolidated

Enterprises]HSBC Holdings Plc [Banking]Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd[Utilities]Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd [Telecommunications]Hutchison Whampoa Ltd [Consolidated

Enterprises]Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd [Property Development]China Resources Enterprise Ltd [Consolidated

Enterprises]Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd [Aviation]BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd [Banking]

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Scoring: who does what? Advisors Research Team CSI Report Scoring Matrix

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Advisors Mr. Darwin Chen Mr. Albert Lai Mr. Michael Lai Mr. Lau Kar Wah Dr. Wai Man Lam Ms. Esther Leung Mrs. Justina Leung Ms. Mak Yin Ting Mr. Charles Mok Mr. Peter Wong Mr. Mathias Woo Ms. Meilin Wu

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HKSAR CSI Diamond 2006

1.5

1.9

1.9

1.2

0

1

2

3Structure

Environment

Impact

Values

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CSI results by counties/regions

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Strengths and weaknesses Hong Kong civil society is active; Its structure is loose and undeveloped; It lacks an environment conducive to

further development.

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The impact of CSOs is more apparent in the following areas Advocacy of ideas and values Shaping of social agendas Challenging public policy-making Service provision

Examples: Victoria Harbour projection, West Kowloon Cultural District, Article 23 Social Movement, Hong Kong Core Values Campaign

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Internal aspects of CSOs Low level of donation and volunteering Low level of participation in CSOs Institutional structures of CSOs not well

developed, esp. in internal democracy and transparency

Insufficient resources (human, financial, and knowledge)

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Relations among CSOs Few federations or umbrella bodies

representing individual CSOs Few platforms to promote dialogue

among CSOs Few CS support organizations

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External aspects of CSOs Government:

limited dialogue and participation in policy-making;

financial dependency on government; Business：

very limited dialogue or cooperation between the two;

lacks a strong sense of corporate social responsibility

Lacks an up-to-date set of nonprofit or charity laws