Navigating Central-Local Dynamics

This paper examines the central-local relation between Beijing and Hong Kong in the final stage of the COVID-19 combat, by analyzing Hong Kong's policy responses regarding public space governance in 2022. Drawing on the combined theoretical insights of governance diffusion and political steering, this study investigates how Hong Kong governed its public spaces during the dramatic shifting pandemic measures – from China's initial “zero-tolerance” policy at the start of 2022, to the complete embrace of the global “co-existence” norm towards the end of the year. Through the analysis of publicly available data, the findings not only offer nuanced insights into the complex central-local dynamics in governance during the pandemic, but also highlight the broader implications of the rise of authoritarian statehood in potentially threatening the sustainability of Hong Kong's neoliberal governance system in the future.