Since the beginning of the 21st century, regional development has become one of the most vital economic issues in China. Both central and local governments in the nation have implemented policies to reduce regional economic disparities and promote regional integration. On the one hand, the central government has exercised policy and political control to promote regional development. On the other hand, local governments have sought opportunities to foster local economic prosperity by forming more competitive economic blocks with neighboring jurisdictions. In particular, growth poles like the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD) have been very active in promoting regional integration and cooperation as they need the support of other hinterlands for further development. Literature review indicates that regional cooperation in China is subjected to the influence of both economic and political factors. Although it seems that there is interaction between such economic and political factors. However, there is a general lack of a comprehensive framework to examine regional cooperation in China from a political and economic dynamic perspective. In order to fill the gap, two game theory models are developed to analyze economic and political incentives for government officials in the context of regional cooperation. The first model attempts to determine the important economic factors that may affect the feasibility of a cooperative project, assuming local government officials are maximizing the absolute economic performance of their jurisdictions. The second model focuses on understanding how the political relationship between provincial leaders may affect regional cooperation between them, assuming local government officials are maximizing the relative economic performance of their jurisdictions. A game theory framework to examine the economic political dynamics of regional in China is developed based on these two models. The game theory analysis reveals that incentives for provincial government leaders to implement cooperation are decided by the consideration of their political career, which is driven by three major forces: central-local government relationship, inter-local government relationship and the potential economic benefit from regional cooperation. Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) Cooperation, a typical inter-provincial cooperative project established in the 21st century, is used as a case study to theory framework. The empirical study indicates that the emergence of Pan-PRD Cooperation benefited from three perspectives: (1) policy support from the central government, (2) uneven political relationship between provincial leaders in Guangdong and other eight provinces, and (3) strengthened economic interaction between Guangdong and other eight provinces. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Environmental Management / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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

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

For inter-city cooperation at regional scale: (a) The thesis applies the partnership theory to regional scale, especially for inter-city cooperation. In this study, three different mechanisms of inter-city cooperation are identified, namely, spontaneous partnership, hierarchical partnership and hybrid partnership. Their effectiveness in inter-city cooperation is evaluated in the thesis. (b) The thesis argues that inter-city cooperation is also a process. Three stages, information exchange, thematic cooperation, and common market, are identified. (c) The thesis categorizes inter-city cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta region. Five ideal types of partnership arrangements for thematic cooperation are identified: development partnership, promotional partnership, coordination partnership, resource-based partnership and strategic partnership. (d) The thesis reveals some principles of partner (member city) selection for inter-city cooperation. In addition, according to the roles of actors in partnership building, the thesis classifies them into three types: crucial actors, influential actors and ordinary actors. Urban growth/cross-border urban growth at urban scale: (a) The traditional urban growth coalition approach neglects how "forces" operate above the local/urban scale, especially in globalizing and competitive world today. This thesis provides some insights for this problem and extends traditional urban growth coalition approach by considering the case of cross-border urban growth in China. (b) The thesis enhances the understanding of urban growth coalition in China. It is found that local governments play different roles in various stages of the formation of urban growth coalition. (c) It is found that an anti-coalition is emerging and has been strengthened in the context of land expropriation due to rapid industrial and urban expansion in China. The causes of the emergence of anti-coalitions are examined in the thesis. / Inter-city cooperation and cross-border development in the Yangtze River Delta region are new phenomena and have received much governmental and scholarly attention in recent years. The aim of this research is to examine inter-city cooperation taking place at regional scale and cross-border urban growth at urban scale from partnership perspective. In this study, three typical cases of inter-city cooperation, Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Urban Region Planning, the Forum for the Coordination of Urban Economy of Yangtze River Delta Region and Jiangyin Economic Development Zone in Jingjiang are selected to examine three types of partnership arrangements with different mobilizations, namely, hierarchical partnership, spontaneous partnership and hybrid partnership. The three case studies contribute to the study of inter-city cooperation based on Chinese experiences. Meanwhile, the case of Jiangyin Economic Development Zone in Jingjiang is also a case of cross-border urban growth. The findings from this case not only extend the urban growth coalition approach to the case of cross-border urban growth, but also deepen the understanding of urban growth politics in China. After tracing and examining the process of mobilization and actor interaction in each case, the major findings of this research are as follows: / The findings of this thesis enhance understanding of inter-city cooperation and cross-border urban growth in rapidly changing China. They not only help to improve the effectiveness of existing inter-city cooperation in the delta region, but also shed light on inter-city cooperation elsewhere. Lessons and experiences drawn from Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Urban Region Planning and Jiangyin Economic Zone in Jingjiang shed light on urban region planning/coordinative planning and cross-border development respectively. / Luo Xiaolong. / "June 2005." / Adviser: Jianfa Shen. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2699. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-192). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

published_or_final_version / Geography / Master / Master of Philosophy

Chan Kuk Valley. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2000-2001, design report." / Includes bibliographical references. / Preface / Acknowledgements / Origin [Information Collection] / Tuen Mun was once the most important place in Hong Kong / Many things changed / Transient are all the people in Tuen Mun / Transition is the character of Tuen Mun / Milestone 1 [ Analysis and Mission statement] / Memories Lost / Memory container is needed / Milestone 2 [ Site selection] / Containing reference to the post / Hung Lau / Tin Hau Temple / Sam Shing Temple / Milestone 3 [ Program] / Combining two Tuen Mun Centers / Nuclear program / Additional program / Milestone 4 [ Design development] / Milestone 5 [ Design concept] / X Is the mark of the place / X is the interception point between old and new / X is the intersection point among people / Milestone 6 [ Final design] / Destination? Next milestone? / Appendix: / Tin Hau study / Model photo / Reference

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture