Labour‐market policies in Shanghai and Hong Kong : A study of “one country, two systems” in Greater China

This article focuses on and provides an updated version of our analysis of labour‐market policies in Greater China over the last decade, specifically in Shanghai and the Hong Kong SAR. The role of the “one country, two systems” model is re‐evaluated vis‐à‐vis both their labour‐market policies. We present a statistical comparison of employment and unemployment in the two settings using the latest data at hand in 2002. Then, we suggest a labour‐market schema to take into account likenesses and dissimilarities. Taking into account the divergent histories, the distinct role of the state as well as the evolving economic structures, we may hypothesize that although there will be different labour markets emerging in the two city contexts, a degree of relative convergence may now be envisaged.