# Hong Kong Senior Secondary Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies is one of four compulsory subjects in the New Senior Secondary Curriculum, which was introduced in Hong Kong schools in 2009, with the first candidates sitting public exams in 2012. This guide outlines the core and elective components of the syllabus which has been proposed by the Curriculum Development Council and approved by the Education and Manpower Bureau, together with suggested questions for discussion and further study and recommended websites for further reading. The guide also outlines study tips for the subject.
Liberal Studies is currently an optional A/S Level subject. The aim of making the subject compulsory is to ensure that all students develop an understanding of the major issues confronting our society in the 21st century and that they are equipped with the critical thinking skills that they need in order to make informed, critical judgments about these issues.
The subject contains elements of science, the humanities and the liberal arts and it also serves to ensure that all students have some degree of breadth in their senior secondary studies.

# Areas of Study
## Self and Personal Development
### Personal Identity and Preparing for Adulthood

* How do people develop a sense of personal identity and how does this change as they grow older?
* How do people change physically, mentally and emotionally during adolescence, and how do they cope with these changes?
* What support is available in Hong Kong to help adolescents cope with the challenges presented by the transition to adulthood?
Useful Resources
Adolescence
Youth Culture
Teens Physical and Mental Health Information Website
Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong

### The Individual and Society

* How is an individual's self-esteem related to his or her sense of belonging to a family, a school, a place of work, a profession, an organisation or club, and to society?
* What is the nature of the relationship between individuals and society?
* What fundamental rights do we enjoy as members of a society?
* What responsibilities do we have towards society?
* How do these rights and responsibilities change as we grow into adulthood?
Useful Resources Society
Sociology
Rights
UN Declaration on Human Rights

### Interpersonal Relationships and Resolving Conflicts
## Society and Culture
### Hong Kong Today
#### Quality of Life

Questions for discussion
* What factors affect the quality of life in Hong Kong?
* What is the relationship between economic prosperity and quality of life?
* How important are family, health, money, career opportunities, education, a clean environment, opportunities for leisure and cultural experiences for quality of life?
* To what extent should the government be responsible for quality of life? To what extent is it the responsibility of businesses and of individuals as citizens, producers and consumers?
Useful Resources
Environmental Problems in Hong Kong
The World Wildlife Fund in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Government

#### Economic Restructuring

Questions for Discussion
* How and why has Hong Kong's economy changed in recent years?
* As Hong Kong increasingly becomes a high-value service economy, what are the consequences for young people in terms of their career prospects and of the skills that they will need?
* What opportunities, challenges and threats face the Hong Kong economy as a consequence of globalisation and of demographic shifts such as gender imbalance and an aging population?
* How should Hong Kong respond to these challenges? To what extent should finding solutions be the responsibility of the government, of businesses or of individuals?
Useful Resources
Economy of Hong Kong
Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement
Pearl River Delta

#### Rule of Law and Participation in Society and Politics

Questions for Discussion
* What rights do Hong Kong residents enjoy?
* How are these rights safeguarded?
* Which form of government would be best for Hong Kong?
* How should the government strike a balance between aspirations for democracy and concerns about maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability?
* In what ways can people express their opinions about how Hong Kong is governed?
* What forms of protest are acceptable? What forms of protest are unacceptable?
Useful Resources
Recent History of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
Politics of Hong Kong
Basic Law
Elections in Hong Kong
Human Rights in Hong Kong
Amnesty International Hong Kong
Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
International Freedom of Expression Exchange

#### Identity

Flag of Hong Kong

### Modern China
#### Reform and Opening Up of China

Chinese Government
Chinese Economy
Cultural Revolution
Open Door Policy
Special Economic Zones
Deng Xiaoping
Jiang Zemin
Hu Jintao
Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989
Falun Gong
2008 Beijing Olympics
Shanghai World Expo 2010

#### Chinese Culture and Modern Life

Chinese culture
Pop culture
Western consumer culture
Westernization

### Globalization

Questions for Discussion
* What challenges and opportunities are created by globalization?
* How does globalization affect the economy, culture, society and political aspirations of different countries?
* Is globalization the same thing as westernization?
* Is the western model of economically developed liberal democracy one that all countries should aspire to? Is such a social/ economic model compatible with non-western cultures?
* What are the advantages and disadvantages of global free trade from the point of view of developed and developing countries?
* Is free trade the same thing as fair trade?
Useful resources
Globalization
World Trade Organization
United Nations
Hungry Planet

## Science, Technology and the Environment
### Public Health and Biotechnology

What is good health and what measures can people take in order to remain fit, healthy and free from disease?
To what extent is public health the responsibility of governments or of individuals?
What are the potential threats to public health at present and what can be done to minimize the risk of these developing into pandemics?
Is it acceptable for individual freedoms to be limited in order to protect public health? To what extent? For example, should smoking in public places be banned?
What are the potential health benefits and risks of recent developments in biotechnology?
What are the ethical implications of these developments?
Disease
Cancer
SARS
AIDS
Avian Influenza
World Health Organization
Smoking
Alcohol
Drugs
Therapeutic Cloning
Gene therapy
Stem cell research
Genetically modified food
Hong Kong Health, Welfare and Food Bureau

### Energy Technology and the Environment
#### The Environment and Sustainable Development

Useful Links:
Global warming
Sustainable development
Pollution
Fossil fuels
Other energy topics
Biodiversity
species Endangered species