A comparative study of housing in Hong Kong and Singapore from the 19th century to the 1970s

The thesis is a theory-led comparative historical research aspired to comprehend the housing policy development in Hong Kong and Singapore from the colonial era to the 1970s. Though embedded in the historical institutionalism, the thesis makes contribution in modifying the framework to better suit housing policy research in the East Asian context. Various theories including the East Asian regime approach are integrated into the research framework. With the help from the refined framework, in-depth understanding of the research topic is gained. Ranging from the causes behind the housing policy development in two different periods of Hong Kong and Singapore to the timing of their policy shifts, the thesis manages to come up with convincing explanations. By extending the application of the historical institutionalism into the two under-researched realms, i.e. housing policy and East Asian context, this research helps boost the validity of the theories. Likewise, the application of the East Asian regime typology in a comparative context renders the opportunity to thoroughly appraise and recommend direction to refine it. In particular, attention to the complicated relationship between housing and welfare state in the East-Asian context is raised. The thesis, in turn, highlights the limitations of studying housing policy development with housing policy categorisation derived from the welfare regime typology.