Kuok, Chiu Fai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-154). / Abstract and appendix also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xiv / List of Abbreviations --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Impact of Malignant Diseases and Multiple Myeloma --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Pharmacoeconomics --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Macao Healthcare System --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Study Hypothesis --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6 --- Study Objectives --- p.12 / Chapter 1.7 --- Perspective of the Study --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- Hematopoietic System --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Specific Blood Cell Lineages and Blood Cells --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Bone Marrow Microenvironment --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Hematologic Malignancies --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Leukemia --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Lymphoma --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Plasma Cell Disorders --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Multiple Myeloma --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Epidemiology --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Pathology --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Clinical Presentation and Disease Complications --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Classification and Diagnostic Criteria --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Disease Staging and Prognosis --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Treatment --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.6.1 --- Treatment Regimens and Strategies --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.1 --- Standard Chemotherapy --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.1.1 --- Melphalan-based Regimens --- p.51 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.1.2 --- VAD-based Regimens --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.1.3 --- High-dose Glucocorticoid Regimens --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.2 --- Treatment Strategies --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.2.1 --- Initial Chemotherapy --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.2.2 --- High-dose Chemotherapy --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.2.3 --- Newer Therapeutic Agents for Multiple Myeloma --- p.58 / Chapter 2.3.6.1.2.4 --- Salvage Chemotherapy --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.6.2 --- Treatment Responses --- p.63 / Chapter 2.3.6.3 --- Treatment for Disease Complications --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology / Chapter 3.1 --- Study Design --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2 --- Patients Selection Criteria --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- For Retrospective Cost Analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- For Health-related Quality of Life Measurement --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3 --- Patient Screening --- p.72 / Chapter 3.4 --- Data Collection --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5 --- Overview of Assessment Methods --- p.73 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Outcomes --- p.73 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Cost Analysis --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Cost Effectiveness Analysis --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Cost Utility Analysis --- p.75 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Health-related Quality of Life Assessment --- p.75 / Chapter 3.6 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.76 / Chapter 3.7 --- Ethic approval --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results / Chapter 4.1 --- Study Population --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Cost and Pharmacoeconomic Analysis --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Health-related Quality of Life Assessment --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2 --- Study Results --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Comparison of All Patients --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- Differences in Treatment Protocols --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- Differences in Treatment Responses --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.1.3 --- Differences in Treatment Outcomes --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.1.4 --- Differences in Treatment Costs --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Comparison for Patients Treated by Melphalan-based Regimens and VAD-based Regimens --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Differences in Treatment Responses --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Differences in Treatment Outcomes --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Differences in Treatment Costs --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Melphalan-based Regimens Versus VAD-based Regimens by Patients with Different DS Staging --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.3.1 --- Patients in Stage 3-A MM --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.3.2 --- Patients in Stage 3-B MM --- p.98 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Melphalan-based Regimens versus VAD-based Regimens in Patients with Different IS Staging --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.4.1 --- Patients in Stage I MM --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.4.2 --- Patients in Stage II MM --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.4.3 --- Patients in Stage III MM --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Comparison for Patients with and without Transplantation --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Cost-effectiveness Assessment --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Cost-utility Assessment --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Sensitivity Analysis --- p.119 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Health-related Quality of Life Assessment --- p.120 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion and Conclusion / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary of Results --- p.123 / Chapter 5.2 --- Implication for Treatment --- p.126 / Chapter 5.3 --- Economic Evaluation --- p.129 / Chapter 5.4 --- Health-related Quality of Life --- p.132 / Chapter 5.5 --- Limitations of the Study --- p.134 / Chapter 5.6 --- Conclusion and Implications for Future Studies --- p.135 / Appendix --- p.137 / References --- p.139

Chan, Yee On Christine. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-115). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Literature Review --- p.4 / Changing role of today's museums and tourism --- p.4 / Tourists as potential museum visitors --- p.7 / Discussion --- p.13 / Methodologies --- p.15 / In-depth interview --- p.15 / Observation --- p.17 / Analyses of guide books and promotional materials --- p.18 / Comparative analysis --- p.19 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- TWO CITIES: HONG KONG AND MACAU --- p.20 / Historical and Economic Development of Hong Kong and Macau --- p.20 / Historical background of Hong Kong --- p.20 / Historical background of Macau --- p.22 / Economic structure of Hong Kong --- p.24 / Economic structure of Macau --- p.25 / Cultural heritage and museums in Hong Kong and Macau --- p.26 / Discussion --- p.28 / Destination Image and History Museums --- p.29 / Image of Hong Kong --- p.29 / Image of Macau --- p.31 / Discussion --- p.33 / Construction of Image --- p.34 / Governing bodies of the two museums --- p.40 / Management of the two museums --- p.43 / Summary --- p.46 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- THE HONG KONG MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND THE MUSEUM OF MACAU --- p.47 / The Hong Kong Museum of History --- p.47 / Location and mission of the Hong Kong Museum of History --- p.48 / Content and facilities of the Hong Kong Museum of History --- p.49 / From the perspective of tourists --- p.56 / The Museum of Macau --- p.59 / Location and mission of the Museum of Macau --- p.59 / Content and facilities of the Museum of Macau --- p.60 / From the perspective of tourists --- p.65 / Summary --- p.67 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- TOURISTS' CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND EXPECTATIONS TOWARDS THE HISTORY MUSEUM --- p.70 / Tourists' Cultural Backgrounds --- p.70 / "Tourists from ""Western"" countries" --- p.71 / Tourists from the Chinese mainland and other countries --- p.74 / Tourists' backgrounds and their expectation towards the museums --- p.76 / "Tourism, Curiosity and Museum Visiting" --- p.78 / Educational Level of Visitors and Educational Function of Museums --- p.79 / Summary --- p.84 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- INTEGRATION AND COMPARISON: HISTORY MUSEUMS ARE NOT AN ISOLATED ENTITY --- p.87 / Conceptual and Geographical Affiliation between History Museum and the City --- p.87 / Image affiliation --- p.88 / Geographical affiliation --- p.89 / Summary --- p.90 / Reflections from Tourists --- p.92 / The Multi-Functions of History Museums --- p.94 / Tourism and the economic function --- p.94 / Tourism and its educational function --- p.96 / Summary --- p.100 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.101 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.109 / APPENDIX 1 PHOTO --- p.116

O objetivo desta tese é construir um modelo de composição de carteiras de recursos energéticos dentro do Planejamento Integrado de Recursos Energéticos (PIR), aplicável em uma determinada região ou país. Este modelo inclui as etapas de definição do espaço geográfico de estudo, o mapeamento de recursos, a caracterização dos recursos energéticos existentes e sua valoração. Após estas etapas, é feita a composição de carteiras energéticas, seguida pela construção de cenários e análise de riscos e incertezas para a definição da carteira preferencial dos recursos energéticos da região. Como ferramentas de apoio, são adaptados modelos matemáticos aplicados em sistemas financeiros para a seleção e análise de carteiras de investimentos, modelos para a avaliação de riscos e incertezas, o software de Planejamento de Alternativas Energéticas de Longo Alcance (LEAP) para a criação de cenários e previsão da demanda energética e o software Decision Lens (DL) para o ranqueamento e a alocação de recursos financeiros dos recursos energéticos dentro da carteira definida, considerando as dimensões técnico-econômico, ambiental, social e política. A caracterização dos recursos energéticos envolve o levantamento das características socioeconômicas, ambientais, o perfil dos envolvidos e interessados do setor energético, a listagem de recursos energéticos locais (hídricos, eólicos, solares, nucleares, biomassa, geotérmicas, células a combustíveis dentre outros). Também são levantadas características construtivas das tecnologias existentes e que podem ser incorporadas na matriz energética da região em estudo. O processo de avaliação dos potenciais energéticos envolve o cálculo dos potenciais energéticos teóricos de cada recurso energético existente na região. Após a avaliação dos potenciais, faz-se a priorização ou ranqueamento destes recursos através de critérios pré-definidos, em duas avaliações diferentes: Avaliação Determinística dos Custos Completos (ADCC) e Avaliação Holística dos Custos Completos (AHCC). Para gerar ambos os rankings utiliza-se o software Decision Lens (DL) baseado no método do Processo de Análise Hierárquico (PAH). O cruzamento das avaliações resulta em ranking geral dos recursos energéticos, utilizado posteriormente para a construção de carteiras dos recursos energéticos. Na valoração dos recursos energéticos, consideram-se atributos ambientais, sociais, técnico-econômicos e políticos, que podem afetar a formação de carteiras eficientes dentro do PIR a longo prazo. O resultado do processo de valoração é o potencial energético realizável da região em estudo. Para este potencial, aplica-se o modelo analítico de formação de carteiras de recursos energéticos. Neste são considerados o ranking, o volume de investimentos, os atributos ambientais (emissões), sociais (IDH, número de empregos, ocupação de solo), políticos (incentivos governamentais, impostos) e todos os parâmetros técnicoeconômicos relacionados às tecnologias selecionadas para o aproveitamento de cada recurso energético. Com a incorporação destas variáveis no modelo, faz-se simulações para a obtenção de carteiras ótimas para a construção do Plano Preferencial dentro do Planejamento Integrado dos Recursos Energéticos. / The main objective of this thesis is to establish a model to guide the composition of energy resources portfolios in the process of the Integrated Resources Planning (IRP) in a region or a country. This includes steps such as the definition of the geographical space of study, mapping of resources, characterization of existing energy resources, and valuation of energy resources. After these steps, the portfolios are formed, followed by the construction of scenarios, and the analysis of risks and uncertainties for the definition of the preferential portfolio of energy resources in the region. Supporting tools based on mathematical models used in financial systems are adapted to the selection and analysis of investment portfolios, models for the evaluation of risks and uncertainties, the Long Range Energy Alternatives Planning Software (LEAP) to create energy demand scenarios and the Decision Lens Software (DL) to rank and allocate financial resources of energy resources within a defined portfolio, considering the technical-economic, environmental, social and political dimensions. The energy resources characterization involves the removal of socioeconomic characteristics, environmental, the profile of those involved and interested in the energy sector, the listing of local energy resources (water, wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal, biomass, fuel cells among other). Constructive features have also been raised of existing technologies and that can be incorporated into the energy matrix of the region under study. The process of energy potential evaluation involves the calculation of theoretical potential energy of each existing energy resource in the region. After the assessment of potential, it was ranking resources through pre-established criteria in two different assessments: Full costs Deterministic Evaluation (ADCC) and Holistic Assessment of Full Costs (AHCC). To generate both rankings, it was used the software Decision Lens (DL) based on the method of Tiered Analysis process (PAH). With both assessment results, it is build the overall ranking of energy resources, used to build an energy resources portfolio. In the valuation of energy resources, environmental, social, technical economic and political attributes are considered to the resources valuation that may affect the portfolio selection within the IRP in the long term. The result of the valuation process is the disposable energy potential of the region in the study. Using the information above, finally, it was applied an analytical portfolio selection model of energy resources. It considered the ranking, the volume of investments, the environmental attributes (emission), social (IDH, number of jobs, occupation of land), political (Government incentives, taxes) and all the parameters related to the technical-economical selected technologies for the enjoyment of each energy resource. With the incorporation of these variables in the model, simulations for obtaining optimal portfolios for the construction of the Preferred Plan within the IERP.

published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Ce mémoire présente, dans une première partie, une analyse détaillée des flux migratoires entre les différentes régions administratives du Québec entre 1991 et 2006. Nous avons utilisé quelques indicateurs permettant de quantifier l’importance de ces mouvements à la fois sur la région d’origine et sur la population d’accueil. Afin de réaliser ce travail, nous avons eu recours aux matrices de flux migratoires entre les 17 régions administratives québécoises, matrices qui sont publiées par l’Institut de la Statistique du Québec à l’aide du fichier de la Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Les méthodes d’analyse utilisées nous ont permis de mesurer l’intensité de ces flux, leur concentration spatiale, l’orientation spatiale des émigrants, les hiérarchies des régions administratives ainsi que l’efficience des migrations interrégionales du Québec. Nous avons analysé comment les régions administratives du Québec sont affectées par la migration interrégionale. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons porté notre attention sur la migration interrégionale en fonction de certains groupes d’âge. L’étude des migrations en fonction du groupe d’âge a permis de mieux saisir les conséquences démographiques de ces mouvements pour les régions d’origine et de destination, particulièrement en ce qui concerne la structure de la population résultant de ces flux. Finalement, dans une troisième partie, nous avons analysé les mouvements migratoires entre l’île de Montréal et les Municipalités Régionales de Comté des quatre régions qui l’entourent afin de comprendre la part de l’étalement urbain dans l’émigration des Montréalais. Les résultats obtenus nous permettent de conclure en dégageant certaines tendances. D’abord, nous avons établi que les migrations dans la province de Québec se font des régions éloignées vers les régions du centre. Ces régions gagnantes renferment ou avoisinent les grands centres urbains de la province : Québec, Montréal et Ottawa. Nous assistons donc à une redéfinition du paysage québécois : le nord se déserte, le centre a une faible croissance et la grande région de Montréal, plus particulièrement les régions en banlieue de l’île de Montréal, est en nette croissance. Ensuite, l’analyse par groupe d’âge a illustré que les régions excentrées ont très rarement des soldes positifs et que les jeunes sont très nombreux à quitter ces régions. Pour l’île de Montréal, ce sont les jeunes qui arrivent en grand nombre. Cependant, après la trentaine, les gens désertent l’île pour d’autres régions de la province. Ces départs profitent aux régions adjacentes, qui font d’énormes gains chez les jeunes travailleurs. Finalement, l’analyse des échanges migratoires entre l’île de Montréal et les MRC des quatre régions adjacentes nous a permis de constater que ces MRC sont très souvent gagnantes dans leurs échanges migratoires. Particulièrement lors de la période 2001-2006, où seulement deux territoires sont perdants dans leurs échanges migratoires avec les autres régions du système, soit l’île de Montréal et la MRC de Longueuil. / This thesis presents in its first part a detailed analysis of migratory flows between Quebec’s different administrative regions between 1991 and 2006. We used a few indicators which enabled us to quantify the importance of these movements on both the region of origin and the host population. In order to accomplish this task, we used the migratory flow matrices between the 17 administrative regions of Quebec that are published by the Institut de la Statistique du Québec, who makes use of the file of the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec (RAMQ). The methods of analysis we used allowed us to measure the intensity of these flows, their spatial concentration, the spatial orientation of the emigrants, the hierarchies of the administrative regions, as well as the efficiency of Quebec’s interregional migrations. We analyzed how Quebec’s administrative regions are affected by interregional migration. In the second part of this thesis, we directed our attention to interregional migration as a function of certain age groups. The study of migrations as a function of the age group allowed us to better understand the demographical consequences of these movements for the regions of origin and of destination, particularly on the population structure resulting from these flows. Finally, in the third part, we analyzed the migratory movements between the island of Montreal and the Regional County Municipalities of its four surrounding regions to understand the role of the urban spread in the emigration of Montrealers. The results obtained allow us to deduce a few tendencies. Firstly, we have established that migration in the province of Quebec happens from remote regions to central regions. These winning regions contain the important urban centres of the province, or are adjacent to them: Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa. We are therefore witnessing a redefinition of Quebec’s landscape: the North is being deserted, there is weak growth in the centre, and in the Montreal metropolitan area, especially in the regions in the suburbs of the island of Montreal, there is a clear growth. Next, the analysis as a function of the age group illustrated that the non-central regions very rarely present positive net migrations, and that youth leave these regions in great numbers. For the island of Montreal, it is the youth that arrive in great numbers. However, people over thirty abandon the island and head for other regions of the province. These departures are beneficial for the neighbouring regions, who receive huge growths in young workers. Finally, the analysis of the migratory exchanges between the island of Montreal and the RCMs of its four neighbouring regions allowed us to notice that these RCMs very often win in their migratory exchanges. This is particularly true for the 2001-2006 period, when only two territories lose in their migratory exchanges with the other regions in the system, namely the island of Montreal and the Longueuil RCM.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 72-76).

研究中國明清慈善組織的歷史學者們認為，中國都市中的善會善堂起源於明末清初。但是，這些研究者較少指出慈善組織如何代表地方利益，也相對忽略慈善組織及其觀念在鄉村社會的歷史發展過程。另一方面，研究中國鄉村社會的歷史學者們認為，維護地方利益的社會組織通常以寺廟及祠堂為中心，運用宗教和禮儀來表達地方訴求。伴隨著近代民族國家的建立和現代化的發展，通過宗教禮儀表達地方訴求的方式遭遇前所未有的衝擊；那麼，慈善活動及慈善組織是否提供了一種空間，延續傳統的宗教祭祀活動進而表達地方訴求？ / 本文即嘗試從地方的視角，探討近代慈善事業如何整合到地方社會，以期理解地方社會對近代中國社會變化的調適與應對。本文聚焦近代中西文化交流的前沿地區──中山縣，對其轄內鄰近澳門的前山地區進行深入剖析。在20世紀30年代「反迷信」話語以及中山縣現代化建設的歷史背景下，探討這一地區的慈善與「迷信」的關係，以及如何實踐慈善事業及傳統的救贖。 / Historians who study the history of charity in China note that the history of Chinese urban charity organizations may be documented from the late Ming dynasty. Nevertheless, they do not argue that from the late Ming, those organizations represented local interests in urban administration and the development of charity in the rural areas. On the other hand, historians who study village and town communities have noted that local organizations representing local interests were centered at temples and ancestral halls. However, the structure was destroyed by modernization and the establishment of nation state in modern China. Meanwhile, charity institutions took more significant roles in local society since late Qing. Therefore, is it possible that charity took over the position that had been occupied by religious sacrifice as the defining quality of local management? This study examines how practices and ideas of charity in modern times were adopted in local society from the bottom up. In order to have a substantial focus, this research takes charity institutions in Qianshan, Chungshan as case studies to examine how they adopted and practiced ideas of charity, how they preserved religious sacrifice under the background of modernization and anti-superstition movement in 1930s. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 毛迪. / Thesis (M.Phil.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2015. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-108). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Mao Di.

The final thesis deals with an application of project within history lessons at secondary grammar schools of the Administrative Region of Ústí nad Labem .The thesis summarizes the basic theoretical findings on a projects realisation together with findings gathered by the empirical research at secondary grammar schools of Administrative Region of Ústí nad Labem. The research focused on recognising a present status of incorporating and using projects in the history lessons, and on the experience of pupils and teachers with this specific teaching strategy. On the grounds of connecting these findings, the thesis provides the reflection of possible using of projects in the course of history lessons (not only as a supplement of ordinary lessons). The thesis recognises a present status of projects realisation within history lessons, including the favoured topics, a way of realisation, outcomes, and a brief summary of particular projects offered by external organisations. The thesis deals with positives and negatives of projects realisation in accordance with opinions of pupils and teachers of secondary grammar schools of Administrative Region of Ústí nad Labem. The thesis also contains two proposals of history projects that might be used by teachers for creating their own projects.

By the end of the twentieth century, there were many secessionist groups, but, the move towards Taiwanese secessionism has arguably been the most significant of these. It triggered the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, which resulted in a historical military confrontation between Mainland China and the US. As will be shown, from 1988 to 2000, Lee Teng-hui, as president of Taiwan, manipulated the political Cross-Straits relationship to promote what was ultimately a secessionist policy. This caused Mainland China to react strongly and triggered sharp tension between Taiwan and Mainland China. This thesis considers what motivated Lee Teng-hui to implement a secessionist Cross-Straits policy and why he supported unification while adopting a substantive secessionist policy. It looks at how he was able to instigate Taiwanese hostility towards Mainlanders, to transform the hostility into a sense of Taiwanese national identity and ultimately into Taiwanese secessionist ideology. A historical approach was used in exploring the origins of secessionism, and descriptive and analytical methods to review systematically and comprehensively political developments in the ROC and its civil war, and to study Lee Teng-hui’s life; the national identity of Taiwan and Mainland China; the implementation of Lee Teng-hui’s political Cross-Straits policy; and the reaction of Mainland China. The study showed that the main cause of Taiwanese secessionism was ethnic conflict between Taiwanese and Mainlanders. It originated from the 228 Incident of 1947, in which Mainlander-led troops slaughtered many Taiwanese. Soon after, the Mainlander-led government fled to Taiwan from Mainland China, and many Taiwanese (including Mainlanders) were killed during the State of Emergency in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the Mainlander-led government fled to Taiwan in its original central government form, the Mainlander élite occupied key positions in the government during the 1950s and 1960s. It resulted in unfair power-sharing for Taiwanese, and caused the Taiwanese élite to believe that they had to establish their own government (nation). Lee Teng-hui had participated in the CCP and had been under political surveillance by the Mainlander-led government for over twenty years. He weathered these political difficulties, but by reasonable inference, there was a close relationship between the political oppression by the Mainlander-led government and his secessionist political Cross-Straits policy. Because Taiwanese residents were indoctrinated by Chiang Ching-kuo and his father, Chiang Kai-shek’s administration for about 40 years, Chinese ideology was dominant and Lee Teng-hui initially paid lip-service to Cross-Strait unification whilst working towards secessionism as reflected in the Chingdao-Lake Incident (1994); the private dialogue between Lee Teng-hui and Shiba Ryotaro (1994); the address at Cornell University (1995); and his two-state theory (1999). However, due to strong pressure from Mainland China, he did not reach his secessionist goal during his presidential term (1988-2000). In conclusion, this thesis shows that Taiwan Island’s geopolitical importance is at the heart of the US’ support for Taiwan’s secession from the Mainland. Therefore, Lee’s secessionist Cross-Strait policy aside, US national interests lie in containing Mainland China and it has, therefore, always played an important role in the secessionist issue and always will. From the perspective of Mainland China, either in terms of nationalism or national security, Taiwan’s secession is a life-and-death issue. If Taiwanese authorities were to declare independence, the only option for Mainland China would be to launch a unification war. For the US, Taiwan is only a pawn that it uses to contain Mainland China. Therefore, in the Cross-Strait issue, the US has more options than Mainland China, namely, to use military intervention in the future to deter Chinese unification or to decide to share common peaceful international relations with Mainland China by accepting Cross-Strait unification. / Thesis (DPhil (International Relations))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Political Sciences / unrestricted