Periscope

Long famed as a gambling and entertainment paradise, Macau is not exactly known as a place for political activism. Yet, in the past year, thousands of Macanese have taken to the streets to protest against an unpopular government policy, for labour rights and even in support of Hong Kong's Occupy Movement. Does this herald an awakening of Macau's civil society?

When students in Taiwan occupied the Legislative Yuan - in what became known as the Sunflower Movement - earlier this year to protest against a proposed trade pact with the Mainland, "Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow Taiwan" was a common refrain. Varsity looks at the lessons and insights that activists in the two places gain from looking at developments in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

In recent years, Hong Kong's government and business sector have increasingly looked to greater integration with the Mainland for development and growth. It cannot...

Since 2009, Hong Kong students have been able to enjoy a fast-track to study at selected mainland universities. Now, the trend of Hong Kong youngsters seeking further education in the Mainland has been given another boost - in the form of cash allowances. As Varsity finds out, critics question what kind of education young Hong Kongers will receive in the Mainland and whether it is a good use of resources?

In his most recent Policy Address, the Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying called on Hong Kong's young people to grab the opportunities offered by China's vast market, to go and make their fortunes there. Varsity talks to Hong Kong people working in the Mainland and asks whether greater economic integration is the only way forward for Hong Kong.

Could the Mainland, and Guangdong in particular, be an answer to the shortage of residential care home places for the elderly in Hong Kong? The government seems to think so, committing more money to buying places in Guangdong homes for Hong Kong seniors. But as Varsity hears, some elderly are uneasy about the arrangement because of the lack of affordable quality medical care on the Mainland.

Civil society is often referred to as the 'third sector', distinctive from government and business, and encompasses charities and non-government organisations. This edition of...

Cases of improper fundraising and even fraud have raised public awareness about a lack of accountability and transparency in the way some charities are run. But a controversial proposal to establish a powerful charity commission to regulate charities was opposed by many groups who fear it could be used as a means to control charities. Although the plan has now been shelved, the debate highlights the difficulties of balancing accountability on the one hand and the autonomy of charities on the other.

Although civil society in China continues to face many challenges and restrictions, Chinese NGOs are continuing to develop and grow. Varsity takes a look at the role that Hong Kong NGOs have played and continue to play in that development.

The term corporate social responsibility - or CSR - has generated a lot of buzz in recent years. Many people in Hong Kong would associate it with the charitable and philanthropic acts of businesses. Practitioners say it goes further than that, and covers sustainability and engagement with workers, consumers and the community. But perhaps fewer people are aware of the criticisms that CSR is little more than corporate whitewashing and spin. Varsity looks at the arguments.