Chak Fan Kwok (Tim)

Thesis

Thesis supervisors

• Dr Kelly Devenney
• Dr Aniela Wenham

Thesis title

Youth policy in the post-Anti-Extradition Bill movement era in Hong Kong.

Thesis summary

Hong Kong experienced a massive social movement in 2019. The focus of the conflict was an extradition law. It allows the HK government to extradite suspects/criminals to mainland China, Macao SAR and Taiwan. The protests in 2019 led to ongoing social unrest. Young people had an active role in the social movement. Their active involvement implicates the making of youth policy in Hong Kong. 

Youth policy, however, does not have a coherent provision in Hong Kong. Policies for youth are subordinated into different policy fields, including education, employment, housing and criminal justice policies. Hong Kong’s social movement in 2019 is a relevant area for research on the making of youth policy in the city. This study focuses on the development of youth policy in the post-anti-extradition bill movement era. It aims to explore policy change after the social movement in Hong Kong and explore any implications for future social policy-making in the city. 

Research

General research interests:

• Youth policy
• Youth activism
• Social movement
• Social justice 
• Policy-making process
• History of social policy
• The East Asian welfare model

Teaching

• Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Contemporary Issues in Social and Political Sciences.

Biography

I graduated from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Policy in 2018. Since then, I have started my academic journey in social policy. The undergraduate study at HKBU developed my interests in social policy, social movements, social justice, the policy-making process, youth in transition and youth policy. 

After my first degree, I did a Master of Arts (MA) in Social Policy at the University of York in 2018-19. This study further enhanced my understanding of social policy. The education and training I received during the MA strengthened my insight into social policy in the UK and global contexts. My MA dissertation was about social capital accumulation and Christianity in England.

I went back to Hong Kong for employment after the MA. I first worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Social and Behaviour Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong, assisting in a research project investigating disabled young people’s school-to-work transition. This job developed my interest in youth studies, especially for disadvantaged young people. After this research post, I worked as an Assistant Centre Supervisor in a Community Centre of the Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Command. I accumulated rich experience serving young people in the community and helping those in need. 

My previous education and work experiences directed me to do a PhD research on youth in Hong Kong. In 2019, Hong Kong experienced a massive Anti-Extradition Bill movement. It is a suitable area for further studies. I am particularly interested in its implications for youth policy. Therefore, I started my PhD at the School for Business and Society in September 2021.

Publications

Conference presentations:

• 21 June 2022 - ChiNESS 2022 Conference
• 7 July 2022 - Critical Research PGR Conference