published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Reclamation plays an important role in land supply of Hong Kong in various parts of territory to meet the demand for business, housing, infrastructural facilities, and ever increasing populations. Since 1852, Hong Kong has successfully expanded 6,824 hectares of the land since the first reclamation project, with about 6% of land in Hong Kong came from reclamation. Major reclamation projects in Hong Kong included Victoria Harbour Reclamation, Hong Kong International Airport Core Development Programme, and the present largest infrastructural facilities Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The government policy for reclamation in the colonial period was regarded as executive-led and lack of public participation. The situation has a significant change after the resumption of sovereignty by China in 1997. Public engagement, such as district forum has been the usual practice for the government to involve the public in reclamation and planning projects. Environmental issues brought by reclamation include the release of contaminants from dredging process, disruption of marine environment and ecosystem, polluting the surrounding water and air, and irreversible damage on the coastline and harbour. The study aims at (1)examining the reason for Hong Kong being so dependent on reclaiming land to increase the land supply for development; and the policy making and implementation process in the Hong Kong Government before and after 1997 in face of the changing political environment;(2) describing the major reclamation projects in the Hong Kong history; (3) studying the environmental impact brought by reclamation in Hong Kong and the related law and governing ordinances; and (4) suggesting alternative ways to increase the land supply in Hong Kong in the near future under the concept of sustainable development. It is concluded that reclamation will still be the easiest option adopted by the government to obtain land resources outside the Victoria Harbour. Community- based urban planning should be continued in land use planning policy for allowing people to engage in the process so that harmonious and sustainability can be achieved. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Alvin Min Che Lin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-127). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract in English and Chinese --- p.i-ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / List of Abbreviations --- p.v / Photo of Tolo Harbour reclamation near Chinese University --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1. --- "The Harbour Reclamation Debate: Introduction, Theoretical Framework and Literature Review" --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Govemment as City Planner: How and Why the Government Came to Pursue its Reclamation Plans in Victoria Harbour. Issues in Hong Kong's Town Planning System --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Framing the Debate: the Rise of the Harbour Protection Movement and the Government's Initial Response (October 1994 ´ؤ October1995) --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- "The Debate Gets Underway: Organizing, Campaigning, Lawmaking (November 1995 - June1997)" --- p.59 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- "Continuity and Change After the Handover: Escalation, Showdown and Resolution (July 1997 - October 1999 and Beyond)" --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Discussion and Conclusion. What We Learn From the Harbour Debate Significance of the Debate for Hong Kong Politics --- p.118 / Bibliography --- p.124 / Appendix: / The Protection of the Harbour Ordinance and TPB Vision Statement Table of Government Plans and Alternative Plans / Tables: / Chapter 1.1 --- Existing/Committed and Proposed Reclamations in Victoria Harbour in1994 --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Uses for Existing and Proposed Harbour Reclamations --- p.33 / Figures: / Chapter 1.1 --- Lessig's Four Elements for Regulating Behavior --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Framework Applied to the Harbour Reclamation Debate --- p.15 / Chapter 3.1 --- "The Harbour Debate, October 1994-October1995" --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1 --- "The Harbour Debate, November 1995 - June1997" --- p.58 / Chapter 5.1 --- "The Harbour Debate, July 1997 ´ؤ October 1999 and Beyond" --- p.81 / Chapter 6.1 --- How Civil Society Influenced the Government --- p.121 / Miscellaneous: / Blueprint of the reclamations and SPH petition --- p.6b