In the era of globalisation, competition has also become global. In higher education, countries worldwide are attaching increasing importance to international ranking exercises and subscribing to the 'world-class universities' paradigm, complemented by various strategies to benchmark with leading universities in order to enhance the global competitiveness of their universities. This is particularly so in Asia as it emerges as the centre of fast-growing economies of the world. Against this wider global policy backdrop, this article reviews major policies introduced and strategies employed by the government and universities/higher education institutions of Hong Kong in the quest for world-class status. It critically examines the 'politics of competition' among institutions for both state and non-state resources, in recruiting and retaining global talent, and in internationalising their curricula in order to achieve their global aspirations. It also explores the intra-institutional 'politics' within institutions involving tensions between teaching and research, and among different discipline areas.
[Copyright of Roeper Review is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2011.564998]

This paper provides a co-director's and co-author's review of and commentary on research carried out with Maurice Galton over the past decade. Its principal focus is the burden that recent education policies and ascent of a deleterious culture of performativity have inflicted on teachers' professional and domestic lives. It reports on four studies conducted for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and two books: Teachers under pressure and Re-inventing schools, reforming teaching. The latter offers alarming, if not surprising, insights into the process of national policy-making. It goes on to relate mutual experiences of recent work in Hong Kong and draws attention to Maurice Galton's contributions to education internationally. The keys to this paper, however, are the persistence, perspicacity and Maurice's personal concern for teachers and children, that have enabled the insights and injustices uncovered in these studies to be published.
[Copyright of Roeper Review is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2011.607152]

The constant development of new technologies such as the Internet and other digital communication devices are increasingly becoming a modern day must have for children. While it is acknowledged that the Internet has tremendous benefits and continues to enrich society in general, a dark side exists. The Internet is largely uncensored. The easy accessibility of the Internet via the home, schools, public libraries, Internet cafes and 3G mobile phones, children are exposed not only to readily available inappropriate material but also unsolicited communication by strangers. This article provides an overview of sex crimes the Internet facilitates against children and the specific problem of online child pornography. The paper examines Hong Kong's response with specific reference to the recently enacted Prevention of Child Pornography Ordinance (Cap 579) (PCPO). The Ordinance's salient features such as the definition of child pornography, the issue of pseudo photographs, the offences created and the defences available under the Ordinance are evaluated. An analysis is made of recently decided cases with respect to the new offence of possession. It finally concludes with the view that a genuine effort is required at both national and international levels to combat child pornography on the Internet.
[Copyright of International Review of Law, Computers & Technology is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13600860600699478]