Community Governance IV｜The Hundred Flowers Blossoming and the Declining West Mountains in Regional Work - Where Should the Balance Between Officials and the People Go?

With the rapid development of the city, the form of the community has changed, and the local work has naturally experienced a lot of impact.

As early as more than ten years ago, some people predicted that community service would become a "sunset industry" in Hong Kong, but many social welfare people from charitable organizations believe that community organizations are "blooming", and different types of social organizations are also blooming in the community. .

Urban development changes the shape of the community, and inevitably disintegrates the regional network built by the government and the private sector for many years.

"Thirty or forty years ago, residents mainly relied on television, newspapers and other channels to collect information. At that time, there was no Internet, and it was very important to communicate with neighbors. At the same time, they also relied on social workers and community organizers to disseminate information and do some community education work. Wu Kunlian, Deputy Director of External Affairs of the Community Development Front, has been a social worker for more than ten years. He often hears his colleagues who are engaged in community work mentioning that in the past, Hong Kong's community was more closely formed, and residents' participation in the community, community interaction and community mobilization ability were higher; and Nowadays, with the popularization of the Internet and the improvement of information circulation, residents can set up concern groups, collect opinions and express their demands through the Internet.

On the other hand, as the community matures and develops, the government gradually reduces its investment in constant resources for community development, and the subjectivity and diversity of non-governmental organizations increase accordingly, such as neighborhood organizations, owners' corporations, associations of associations, and councillors. The resources of volunteer teams, churches and other organizations themselves are considerable and should not be underestimated.

However, the government is worried that increasing the funding of non-governmental organizations may intensify the opposition in disguise, which may hinder the government's governance at that time; but Wu Kunlian believes that community work can build a real and effective communication bridge between the citizens and the government, and the government should rationally consider the public opposition The voice and the reasons behind it, don't sacrifice the quality of regional services for fear of opposition, after all...

For details, please read the 322nd issue of "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly Newsletter (June 20, 2022)

Community Governance 1 | When a small government meets a big society - Hong Kong's community organization is weak?

Community Governance ・2｜Anti-epidemic by feeling the stones Huang Ziqian: The government must take the initiative to build social capital community governance where to go

Wu Kunlian pointed out that the government is worried that civil organizations will raise opposition when they grow, but he believes that community work can build a real and effective communication bridge between citizens and the government. The government should rationally think about the voices of civil opposition and the reasons behind them, and not sacrifice for fear of opposition. Regional service quality.

(Photo by Chen Weici)