published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Geography / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

China’s economic reform has not only led to the rapid growth of cities, but also to the dramatic transformation of villages. To fulfill the demand for land and other resources, the state expropriates rural land and the villagers attached to the land are turned into urban residents. Villagers’ committees, the governing body of the village, are also restructured in response to urbanization. For a long period of time, villagers and villagers’ committees have been deemed to be in a weaker position, suffering from the exploitation by the state and a lack of sufficient social welfare. The literature has suggested that the development of modern cities will result in the demise of peasantry and rural collectives. Is this true in Southern China? As a set of new institutional arrangements, the rural shareholding cooperative (RSC) was created in the 1980s that appeared to have reassembled the power and interests of individual farmers and restored the importance of collective actions in the countryside. Using Guangzhou as a case study, this research attempts to find out what role the RSC plays in China’s urbanization. To achieve this goal, quantitative data were collected from national and local governmental departments to illustrate the “big picture” of rural development and shareholding reform in Guangzhou. Qualitative data were obtained from interviews with government officials, rural cadres and villagers, and from fieldwork conducted in representative towns and villages. This study also examines the roles of RSC in three aspects: rural governance, land development and welfare provision. Rural governance mainly refers to the impacts of administrative restructuring, village election and kinship. Land development focuses on the retained land policy, rural land use planning and “Three Oldies (old city, old factory and old village)” redevelopment. In terms of welfare provision, rentier issues, conflicts on shareholdership and rural taxation have also been investigated. The results of spatial analyses and quantitative analyses show that shareholding reform normally took place in economically developed villages situated in locations that were close to the city center. Analyses on rural governance show that RSC has remodeled the interactions of state, cadres and villagers. The powers of these parties have become more balanced now. RSC can also promote physical urbanization in the countryside via profitable development projects and new arrangements on rural planning and land property rights. Moreover, the RSC can facilitate villagers to acquire labor skills, a sense of social equity and awareness as taxpayers. This study has updated the empirical works on institutional change in rural southern China. More importantly, it has examined the new roles of rural collective organizations and contributed to the theories on collectivization in the post-reform era, which have been largely ignored by previous research. Findings of this study imply that the RSC is playing a critical part in China’s urbanization process. As an emerging form of rural collective, it can facilitate rural-urban transformation or even achieve unprecedented integration of Chinese villages and cities. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Lee Kam-yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-196). / Abstracts in English and Chinese ; questionnaire and appendix also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- From “Human! Human ´ح to “Shanghai Baby ´ح / Chapter 1.2 --- Overview of the Research / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Literature Review --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Individualism as a Cultural Complex / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Type of Individualism / Chapter 2.1.2 --- The Discourse of Individualism / Chapter 2.2 --- Individualism as a Social Institution / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Parsons: Institutionalized Individualism / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Individualization and Institutionalized Individualism / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Market and Institutionalized Individualism / Chapter 2.3 --- Individualism in Chinese Society / Chapter 2.4 --- China in Transition / Chapter 2.4.1 --- The Value Change in China / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Modernization and Structural Change ´ؤ State-led Modernization and the Introduction of Market / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Market and Institutionalized Individualism / Chapter 2.4.4 --- The Changing Morality in Contemporary China / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Research Question and Methodology --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Question / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Institutionalized Individualism in China / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Tension between Traditional Values and Market Values / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Effect on Family / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Searching for New Social Norms and Order / Chapter 3.1.5 --- The Example of Modernization in Japan / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Research Question / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Research Question / Chapter 3.1.7 --- The Cultural Orientation in Hong Kong Society / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Design / Chapter 3.2.1 --- The Case / Chapter 3.2.2 --- The Importance of the Case / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Research Significance / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Methodology / Chapter 3.2.5 --- The Interview Questions / Chapter CHAPER 4 --- """Contextualize"" the Case" --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1 --- The Development of the Southern Part of China: Guangdong / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Guangzhou under Market Reform / Chapter 4.2 --- The Case ´ؤ Xia Du Village / Chapter 4.2.1 --- The Commercial Activities in Xia Du / Chapter 4.2.2 --- The Living Environment in Xia Du / Chapter 4.3 --- Student under Market Reform / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Politics / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Work / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Attitudes on Money / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Consumerism and Modern Life Style / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Marriage and Sex / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Traditional Values / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Generation Gap / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Being an Individual / Chapter 4.3.9 --- Confusion and Frustration among the Youth: I Have Nothing! / Chapter 4.4 --- The Study / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Public Life ´ؤ Community and the State --- p.70 / Chapter 5.1 --- Community / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Reasons for Living in Xia Du / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Interaction in the Community / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Social Relationship in Xia Du / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Passive Response to the Problems / Chapter 5.1.5 --- The Improvement of Dormitory / Chapter 5.1.6 --- Mobility of the Students / Chapter 5.1.7 --- Freedom in the Community / Chapter 5.1.8 --- The Openness and the Disorder in Xia Du / Chapter 5.1.9 --- The Community Life / Chapter 5.1.10 --- The Liberating Spirit among the Students / Chapter 5.1.11 --- Conclusion / Chapter 5.2 --- Politics / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The Boundary between Individual Right and the Power of the State / Chapter 5.2.2 --- As a Passive Participant / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Commitment toward the Country / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Private Life --- p.91 / Chapter 6.1 --- Work / Chapter 6.1.1 --- A Continuum / Chapter 6.1.2 --- The Appreciation of Market / Chapter 6.1.3 --- The Two Ideal Types of Value System / Chapter 6.1.4 --- Dilemma between Self-Opportunity and Loyalty / Chapter 6.2 --- The Intimate Sphere (Love and Family) / Chapter 6.2.1 --- The Choices between Self-aspiration and Love / Chapter 6.2.2 --- The Tension between Individual Space and Attachment / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Common Values: Stability / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Family / Chapter 6.2.5 --- Summary / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- Living in the Individualized World --- p.116 / Chapter 7.1 --- The Tension of the Dynamic Individualism / Chapter 7.1.1 --- Tension between Traditional Values and Market Values / Chapter 7.1.2 --- Tension between Autonomy and Family: Ping's Story / Chapter 7.1.3 --- Tension between Self-interest and Morality / Chapter 7.1.4 --- Tension between Market Values and Stability / Chapter 7.2 --- Life Pressure / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Family Responsibility / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Social Expectation of Family / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Uncertainty and Freedom / Chapter 7.3 --- The Importance of Money / Chapter 7.3.1 --- To Provide the Feeling of Security / Chapter 7.3.2 --- To Define Success / Chapter 7.3.3 --- To Secure Your Right and Attain Freedom / Chapter 7.4 --- Tensions between Consumption and Traditional Values / Chapter 7.4.1 --- Single-Minded Individualism / Chapter 7.4.2 --- Dynamic Individualism / Chapter 7.4.3 --- The Incident of Menhan Quan Xi / Chapter 7.5 --- Loneliness / Chapter 7.5.1. --- Concern on Privacy / Chapter 7.6 --- The Life Situations in a Individualized World / Chapter 7.6.1 --- Weak Emotional Ties in Family / Chapter 7.6.2 --- Geographical Separation / Chapter 7.6.3 --- The Change in Family / Chapter CHAPTER 8 --- Conclusion and Discussion --- p.143 / Chapter 8.1 --- The Value System / Chapter 8.1.1 --- The Element of Individualism among the Students / Chapter 8.1.2 --- Two Manifested Forms of Individualism / Chapter 8.1.3 --- Single-Minded Individualism / Chapter 8.1.4 --- Dynamic Individualism / Chapter 8.1.5 --- Summary of the Two Ideal Types / Chapter 8.1.6 --- The Position of the Case / Chapter 8.2 --- The Dimension of Individualization and its Implication / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Physical individualization / Chapter 8.2.2 --- The Individualization of Morality / Chapter 8.2.3 --- The Individualization of Social Responsibility / Chapter 8.2.4 --- The Three Dimensions / Chapter 8.3 --- Market and Extreme Individualism / Chapter 8.4 --- The Myth of Market / Chapter 8.5 --- Rethinking the Importance of Traditional Values / Chapter 8.6 --- The Chinese Modernity / Chapter 8.7 --- Research Limitations / Chapter 8.8 --- Summary / APPENDICES / Appendix I Photos of the Xia Du Village --- p.165 / Appendix II Informants' Information --- p.170 / Appendix III Interview Questions --- p.172 / Appendix IV The News Cutting of the Incident of Menhan Quan Xi --- p.180 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.189

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Background: Noise is one of the most important forms of environmental pollution among developed and developing countries. A report from UK National Study of Hearing estimated that around 440 million people suffer from noise induced hearing loss in EU countries with 1–1.6 million disability-adjusted life year lost. In China, the Second China National Sample Survey on disability in 2007 revealed that about 27.8 million people suffered from hearing impairment, and 73.4% of which (about 20 million) were diagnosed with disability. The prevalence of hearing impairment was estimated to be 2.1% in the general population, and increased to 11.0% among those aged greater than 65 years. Objective: To find out the effect of earplug on noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), as well as understanding the source and exposure of noise in the industry, to estimate the prevalence of NIHL in factories with noise exposure, to analyze relationships between NIHL and age, sex, dose and duration of occupational noise exposure, type of work, use of hearing protection products, education level and other factors. Significant risk factors identified were used to provide evidence-based recommendations in prevention and control of NIHL. Study Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study Method: A total of 1874 workers exposed to noise in a compressor factory in Guangzhou, China were included. Between September 2011 and January 2012, physical examination including a screening program of hearing loss, pure tone audiometry test were carried out among workers including information on age, sex, work types, noise exposure level, exposure time, as well as the questionnaire about earplug using status, status of using ear products report by company, smoking status, education level, discharge of ear, history of herpes zoster, history of using ototoxic drugs, history of ear surgery, family history of NIHL, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure. The outcome variable is the audiometric mean value which reflects hearing status of the subjects. Subgroup differences in mean value of audiometry were compared by independent sample t-test. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between earplug use and NIHL, adjusted for other potential confounders. Factors associated with earplug use were also identified. Result: 1873 workers took part in the study (both physical examination and questionnaire) The prevalence of NIHL is 381 (20.3%) from study, and an average noise level of 83.5 dB was detected in the factory across different types of working place. The pure tone audiometric mean value (PTA) is 26.7 dB with a standard deviation of 4.8. The mean PTA value for those using earplug is 25.81 dB, which was significantly lower than those not using earplug with a mean PTA value of 1.54 dB (p < 0.001). A 0.962 mean difference is detected between noncontinuous earplug usage group and continuous usage group. Multiple linear regression model showed a dose response effect in use of earplug on NIHL, with an estimated mean PTA 1.49 dB (p-value <0.001) and 0.96 dB (p-value = 0.001) lower than those not using earplug at all. Hearing protective effect with part of dose response relationship is found in education level groups as well. Workers from technical school have a 5.974 dB lower of mean PTA, where the decrease is 3.909 dB in high school group, reference of primary level. Moreover, ever smokers show 1.557 dB higher on reference as nonsmoker. Other significant results can be found in family history of NIHL, ototoxic drug using, with statistical significant, respectively, with the direction of positive to NIHL, which shows harmful effect on workers’ hearing. Multivariable logistic regression model is used to find out factors associated with earplug usage. In the model, higher education level is found to be associated with higher earplug usage, especially among participants from technical schools, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 34.07, whereas those from high school group have an AOR of 12.35.(With Primary school group being the reference group.) Workers whose daily tasks involve phosphorus board, punching press, compressor are found to have a relatively low percentage on earplug usage compliance, with AOR of 0.55, 0.41, 0.23 respectively. (Those from machine shops are used as the reference group.) The result is in accordance with their positive correlation on NIHL. Conclusion: Use of earplug was found to be protective to NIHL. Factors such as education level, smoking status, discharge of ear, family history of NIHL and certain types of work were found to be associated with lower risk of NIHL. To protect hearing of the workers and reduce NIHL prevalence, provision of and education on hearing protection products and supervision of continuous use of earplug in noise exposed industry should be implemented. Occupational health monitoring to the enterprises should be enhanced by health sectors of Chinese government. Due to the limitation of retrospective design of this dissertation, further cohort studies are called for to provide stronger evidence of factors’ effect on NIHL. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health