Immigration policy on non-local students in Hong Kong: a study of policy dynamics

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to enhance the understanding of the agenda setting process of Hong Kong government by analysis of the immigration policy on non-local students in the post-colonial era. With the government’s determination for developing Hong Kong to become a regional education hub, a general relaxation of immigration policy on non-local students is observed since 2004. By adopting John Kingdon’s policy streams theory as analytical framework, mixed with Cohen et al’s garbage can model and Lindblom’s incrementalism theory, the influential factor on the problem, policy and political streams are identified and the findings suggest that events in political streams, such as the change in national mood and change in administration have great impacts on the agenda whilst the problem and policy streams remain relatively stable. The impact of the policy entrepreneur is also discussed during the course of research.