Discovering government and public policy
Tam Wai-fung & Cheung Chor-yung
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Students from the Department of Public Policy (POL) at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) discussed policy issues with senior government officials during a visit to the Transport and Housing Bureau on 15 November. 
Organised by Dr Arthur Cheung Kam-chuen and Dr Cheung Chor-yung, Senior Teaching Fellows in POL, the visit was part of the CLASS course “Discovering Government”, which comprises a series of out-of-classroom activities aimed at enhancing students’ understanding of politics, ethics, public management and policy.
About 30 undergraduates from POL and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) asked the Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung about housing and land supply, long-term transport strategies, and how the government can help promote cycling in Hong Kong as an alternative mode of transport.
“Public administration students need to be familiar not only with the theory and international good practices of government, but also the dynamics and constraints of real-world public administration, especially on the home front,” said Professor Cheung, a former faculty member at CityU with a great deal of experience in teaching and training in public administration.
Adrian Richards, an exchange student from Wales, said the visit was a precious learning opportunity since it would be rare for undergraduates in Europe to meet a high-level government minister in person during such a study visit.
Choi Ho-wai, a Year 3 student majoring in Public Policy, Management, and Politics, said the visit enhanced his understanding of the policymaking process and the politics related to public administration.
Other activities held recently included a guest lecture on “Rising City in a Sinking World” by Mr Franklin Lam Fan-keung, former Executive Council non-official member and founder of HKGolden50, plus visits to old city districts and a community farm.
