Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2003. / Title from title screen (viewed Nov. 19, 2003). "September 2003." Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-83). Also issued in paper format.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2003. / "MBA professional report"--Cover. Thesis advisor(s): Jeffrey R. Cuskey, Cary Simon. Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-109). Also available online.

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Public-private partnership (PPP) has been an important issue in recent decades. PPP is seen by some as a cure for inefficient and over-burdensome modern government. Yet, by observing practices in China, this research aims to answer the simple questions: why has there been a decline in PPPs? How does government decide whether or not to establish partnership with private enterprises? By investigating the case of Primary Land Development (PLD) in China especially in Beijing, this research has attempted to provide explanations mainly in relation to coordination effectiveness involving a resource interdependence theory. Logic of institutionalism is followed. External environment, key institutions and attributes of PLD field are also carefully examined to further explain the change of resources and coordination effectiveness. This research conducts longitudinal comparison of cases within one case city: Beijing. The focal level is Beijing municipal level. Three time horizons are examined, which are 2002—2004, 2005—2008, and 2009-2010. The First-hand data in this study have two main sources: in-depth interviews with key policy participants and archives acquired through fieldwork. Secondary data including statistical yearbooks, laws and policies, news, and research carried out by previous students are also employed by the research. This research examines the changes of external political and economic environment in each time horizon. It compares the coordination effectiveness between PLD policy-makers and PLD implementers and between PLD implementers and other stakeholders in PLD process within each time period. Through examining the three stages of PLD in Beijing, this research develops the following findings. First, fiscal decentralization and cadre management are two important elements shaping the incentives of policy-makers in China. Second, coordination effectiveness in two dimensions influence policy-makers in decisions related to PPP. Third, the degree and the extent of resource interdependence influences whether coordinator can employ the most suitable and effective mechanisms to coordinate. Fourth, changes to the external economic and political environment will change the incentives and policy choices of policy-makers, and also change the resources held by different actors. Fifth, coordination matters. When traditional mechanisms such as hierarchy and the market do not work well in many cases, the ability to employ new coordination mechanisms such as networks is particularly important in achieving the desired goals of coordinators. Finally, in countries like China which is dominated by political logic, the more politically significant a field is, the less likely it is that PPPs will exist. / published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Conserving ecologically important sites under private ownership has long been the problem to the Government. In Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, wetland habitat comprises of a number of fishponds under private ownership. The land ownership issue hinders these fishponds from wetland conservation. Conventional conservation approach, which relies on nature reserve designation and land acquisition, is not always applicable due to huge financial implication. To resolve the issue, the Government launched Public-private Partnership Scheme in 2004, to encourage wetland conservation projects on private lands through integration of wetland conservation and development. In recent years, projects applied through Public-private Partnership Scheme have received strong objection from the public and green groups. They criticize the projects will impose potential impacts on wetland habitat and threats on biodiversity values. This study identified the inadequacies of Public-private Partnership Scheme and to analyze the root causes leading to ineffectiveness. The result of evaluation found several inadequacies in Public-private Partnership Scheme, including (i) ignorance of overall biodiversity values; (ii) weak linkage between conservation and development objectives and result in incompatible land uses; (iii) neglected the interest of powerless stakeholders in the design of trade-off and incentives; (iv) lacks of other policies, cross-departmental and regional planning supports; (v) uncertainty in long-term financial arrangement; and (vi) top-down and unidirectional participation process. These inadequacies are further categorized into five root causes leading to ineffectiveness of PPP scheme, including (i) limitations of incentive, (ii) lack of clear conservation targets, (iii) passive and rigid mechanism, (iv) top-down participation process, and (v) project-based policy. Based on these root causes, the Government’s motivation in conservation is much lag behind when compared to the public expectation. Its effort in facilitation is limited and critically influences the effectiveness of Public-private Partnership Scheme. Its passive and supervision role of the Government hinder the mechanism of Public-private Partnership Scheme search for better integration of wetland conservation and development. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration