This paper analyses the relationship between democratization and Hong Kong people's welfare attitude based on the data of a household survey. An “incoherent residual welfare concept” was found among respondents who, on the one hand, suggested higher rates of assistance for welfare recipients; and, on the other hand, strongly supported the government's residual welfare ideology. This pattern, argued in the paper, might be caused by limited democracy, a strong administrative-led government and the failure of political parties to challenge the fundamental values of social welfare in a capitalist society.

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