Kuan Hsin-chi
Encyclopedia
Kuan Hsin Chi is chairman of the Department of Government and Public Administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
(CUHK). He retired in 2006 but continues to teach political science
part-time. He was chairman of the Hong Kong
Civic Party
from its foundation in 2006 until 2011.
Kuan, affectionately known as "Ah Gwan" (阿關), was born in Macau
and graduated from Yuet Wah College
(粵華中學) there. After gaining his Ph.D.
degree from Munich University in 1972, he planned to take up teaching in Taiwan
but was invited to teach at CUHK
instead, where he spent his entire academic career until retirement.
During his 33-year career, as well as teaching political science
Kuan was also Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the University Dean of Students. Currently, he is the Director of the Universities Service Centre and a member of the University Council.
His main research interests are political and legal culture and development, comparative politics
, research methodology, political parties
, and development of political science
. He is one of the most widely respected scholars in Hong Kong
.
He has always believed that full democracy is the only way to rebuild Hong Kong. Thinking that today's political parties are insufficient to achieve this aim, he helped found the Civic Party
(公民黨), drawings its members from Legco legislators
of the Article 45 Concern Group
.
, Kuan is naturally pro-democratic rights. However, he caused controversy whilst speaking on Commercial Radio on 1 April 2006. On the topic of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, he said that focusing on the still-controversial event would adversely affect democratic development in Hong Kong, which should come first. This view contrasts with those of most in the pro-democratic camp, and drawing criticism from the more radical Leung Kwok Hung (梁國雄), a.k.a. "Long Hair" (長毛).
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
(CUHK). He retired in 2006 but continues to teach political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
part-time. He was chairman of the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Civic Party
Civic Party
Civic Party is a liberal democratic political party in Hong Kong.The Civic Party is currently the third largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, with five members securing seats in the 2008 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections...
from its foundation in 2006 until 2011.
Kuan, affectionately known as "Ah Gwan" (阿關), was born in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and graduated from Yuet Wah College
Yuet Wah College
Yuet Wah College is a secondary school in Macau-History:Yuet Wah College was founded in 1925 in Canton, China...
(粵華中學) there. After gaining his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree from Munich University in 1972, he planned to take up teaching in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
but was invited to teach at CUHK
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
instead, where he spent his entire academic career until retirement.
During his 33-year career, as well as teaching political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
Kuan was also Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the University Dean of Students. Currently, he is the Director of the Universities Service Centre and a member of the University Council.
His main research interests are political and legal culture and development, comparative politics
Comparative politics
Comparative politics is a subfield of political science, characterized by an empirical approach based on the comparative method. Arend Lijphart argues that comparative politics does not have a substantive focus in itself, but rather a methodological one: it focuses on "the how but does not specify...
, research methodology, political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
, and development of political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He is one of the most widely respected scholars in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
He has always believed that full democracy is the only way to rebuild Hong Kong. Thinking that today's political parties are insufficient to achieve this aim, he helped found the Civic Party
Civic Party
Civic Party is a liberal democratic political party in Hong Kong.The Civic Party is currently the third largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, with five members securing seats in the 2008 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections...
(公民黨), drawings its members from Legco legislators
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
of the Article 45 Concern Group
Article 45 Concern Group
Basic Law Article 45 Concern Group is a pro-democracy political group in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It was established on 14 November 2003 by legal practitioners and academics...
.
Political views
As chairman of the Civic PartyCivic Party
Civic Party is a liberal democratic political party in Hong Kong.The Civic Party is currently the third largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, with five members securing seats in the 2008 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections...
, Kuan is naturally pro-democratic rights. However, he caused controversy whilst speaking on Commercial Radio on 1 April 2006. On the topic of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, he said that focusing on the still-controversial event would adversely affect democratic development in Hong Kong, which should come first. This view contrasts with those of most in the pro-democratic camp, and drawing criticism from the more radical Leung Kwok Hung (梁國雄), a.k.a. "Long Hair" (長毛).