HKDSE CSD key terms

A person's legal membership of a state, carrying rights such as voting and protection, and duties such as obeying laws and paying taxes. In CSD it also covers participation in community affairs beyond legal status.

Entitlements a person may claim, such as freedom of expression and access to education, paired with responsibilities such as respecting others' rights and contributing to society. The two are usually balanced rather than treated separately.

The principle that everyone, including the government, is subject to law that is publicly known, applied equally and enforced by independent courts. It protects against arbitrary power and underpins stable social and economic life.

The constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, adopted in 1990 and effective from 1 July 1997. It sets out the relationship with the central authorities, residents' rights and the structure of government.

The arrangement under which Hong Kong is part of China while retaining its own legal, economic and social systems for a stated period after 1997. It shapes debates on autonomy, rights and integration.

Protection of a state's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political system and social stability from internal and external threats. In Hong Kong it is often discussed alongside the 2020 national security legislation and civil liberties.

The sense of belonging to and identifying with a country, shaped by history, culture, education and shared institutions. Surveys often measure how strongly people identify as citizens of a state versus a local place.

The growing interconnection of economies, societies and cultures through trade, investment, migration, information technology and travel. It brings efficiency and cultural exchange but also inequality and vulnerability to external shocks.

The process by which countries reduce barriers between their economies, for example through free trade areas, customs unions or common markets. It increases trade and specialisation but can expose local industries to sharper competition.

The idea that a place gains from specialising in what it produces at the lowest opportunity cost and trading for the rest, even if it is less efficient at everything. It explains gains from trade between economies.

Development that meets present needs without undermining the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It balances economic growth, environmental protection and social equity, and is often expressed through the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, driven mainly by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. It raises sea levels, intensifies extreme weather and threatens food and water supplies.

The total greenhouse gases released by a person, organisation or product, usually expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. It is used to compare lifestyles, supply chains and policies aimed at emission reduction.

Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind, water and geothermal heat. It reduces reliance on fossil fuels but raises questions about cost, land use and intermittent supply.

An economic model in which materials are reused, repaired and recycled rather than discarded after one use. It contrasts with the linear take-make-dispose pattern and aims to cut waste and resource consumption.

The collection, sorting, treatment and disposal of solid waste, including recycling, composting and landfill or incineration. Effective systems depend on infrastructure, pricing incentives and public habits.

A rising share of older people in a population, caused by longer life expectancy and falling birth rates. It affects labour supply, healthcare demand, pension systems and the design of public services.

The number of people outside the working-age group relative to those of working age, often expressed per thousand. A high ratio suggests heavier pressure on workers and public finances.

Government arrangements that provide income support, healthcare or other help to people facing hardship, unemployment, illness, disability or old age. Design choices involve trade-offs between adequacy and affordability.

The extent to which income or assets are unevenly distributed across a population. It is commonly measured by the Gini coefficient, where a higher value indicates greater inequality.

A number between 0 and 1 summarising inequality in a distribution, where 0 means perfect equality and 1 means one person holds everything. It is widely used to compare income inequality across places and over time.

The movement of individuals or families between social or income positions over time, often upward through education and employment. Low mobility means background strongly predicts a person's future outcomes.

The principle that a person's opportunities to learn should not be determined by family income, gender, ethnicity or location. It involves fair access, adequate support and reducing barriers to achievement.

Tangible and intangible elements inherited from the past, such as monuments, crafts, languages, festivals and traditions. Preservation balances authenticity and community use against tourism and development pressures.

The protection, maintenance and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, sites and objects. It often involves weighing preservation against redevelopment, safety requirements and financial costs.

The ability to access, analyse, evaluate and create media messages critically. It includes checking sources, recognising bias and understanding how platforms shape what information reaches an audience.

False or misleading content spread without necessarily intending to deceive, as distinct from disinformation, which is deliberately created to mislead. It spreads quickly online and can distort public debate.

The skills needed to use digital devices and services safely and effectively, including managing privacy, protecting accounts and understanding online risks. It is increasingly treated as a basic requirement for participation.

Unequal access to devices, affordable internet and the skills to use them, often falling along income, age or geographic lines. It affects education, employment and access to public services.

Online platforms where users create profiles, share content and interact with networks of others. They enable rapid communication and organising but also raise concerns about echo chambers, harassment and data use.

The right to hold opinions and to seek, receive and share information and ideas through any medium. It is usually subject to lawful limits protecting others' rights, public safety and national security.

The protection of information about an identifiable person, such as name, contact details, health records or online activity. Rules typically require consent, security safeguards and limits on how data may be used.

A voluntary, non-profit organisation independent of government that works on social, environmental, humanitarian or advocacy issues. Such groups mobilise citizens, deliver services and press for policy change.

Actions through which people take part in public life, such as voting, volunteering, joining consultations, campaigning or community service. It can be formal and institutional or informal and grassroots.

A business that trades to earn income while pursuing a social mission, for example employing disadvantaged groups or funding community services. Profits are mainly reinvested in the mission rather than distributed to owners.

The expectation that companies consider social and environmental impacts alongside profit, for example through fair labour practices, community investment and environmental measures. Critics ask whether such efforts are substantive or mainly public relations.

Joint action by neighbouring places on trade, transport, environment or security, often through agreements and shared institutions. Examples include the Greater Bay Area initiative and regional economic forums.

A development plan linking Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities of Guangdong into a closer economic region. It aims to boost innovation, transport links and market integration, raising questions about competition and local identity.

A formal process in which authorities invite views from residents and stakeholders before finalising a policy or project. Its value depends on how early it occurs and whether feedback can actually change decisions.

Any person or group affected by or able to influence a decision, such as residents, businesses, workers, government and NGOs. Identifying stakeholders helps analyse conflicts of interest and design fairer responses.