Write an essay to answer the following questions:
a What is a political party?
b parties are powerless in Hong Kong because they cannot form government and make policies. Discuss.
How should you interpret this question?
This question is based on Politics Units 3 and 4.
It asks for the definition of political party and invites you to examine the capacity and influence of political parties in Hong Kong as compared to the ideal type.
Key points to be considered:
• What are the structure, functions and goals of political parties? In what ways are political parties different from pressure groups?
• What are the agendas and functions of the major political parties in Hong Kong? Has there been any significant change from the late colonial period to the SAR period?
• To what extent have their policy agendas been enacted or their social functions fitlfilled?
• Compare the roles of political parties in modem democracy and those in Hong Kong, and explain the causes of the latter's limitations.