Click a step to expand. Core question: To what extent did HK government staff make decisions informed by data?
Choose one or more decisions that are concrete and specific (e.g. a named policy or programme).
Use course project topics (flu shot, road safety, eMPF, rodent control, bus stop merge, etc.) and align with SDGs.
Ask: In what ways is this decision controversial or disputable? Document gaps (e.g. lack of data, unclear criteria).
This defines your entry point for requesting data and making recommendations.
Collect government and Legco documents (reports, meeting minutes). Focus on decision-making process and how data is managed.
Use AI agent to search Legco.gov.hk and gov.hk. Use the government telephone directory to find staff contacts.
Draft a clear request: state the decision, what information you need, and why. Cite the Code on Access to Information.
⏱ Expect ~3 weeks for a response; allow up to 7 weeks. Send early (Weeks 3–4).
Design small-scale data collection (survey, site observations) to understand the problem and data management on the ground.
Use the fieldwork allowance (HK$300 per student; submit by Week 6). Data sheds light and complements government data.
Use math and visualization tools (optimization, regression, simulation, Python/Jupyter) on: your data (Step 5), government responses (Step 4), and curated documents (Step 3).
Produce clear recommendations on how decision-making could become more data-driven. Link every chart to a clear question.
Deliverables: group report (~3,000 words), poster, and two presentations. Frame as a complaint about government data governance.