Ming, Sze Chai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-140). / Abstracts in English and Chinese, some text in appendix also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / TABLE OF CONTENTS / LIST OF FIGURES / LIST OF TABLES / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Research Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Questions and Objectives --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Significance --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research Area --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- Thesis Outline --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- URBAN TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA AFTER 1979 / Chapter 2.1 --- Urban Development before 1978 --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Two Fundamental Issues of Urban Transformation in China --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Major Transformation in the Post-Reform China --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- The Emergence of the Market --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Decentralization --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Globalization --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- A New Form of Government Behaviour: Growth Coalitions --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Interaction between Central and Local Government --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Interaction among Local Governments --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Changes in the Social-Cultural Environment --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4 --- Previous Studies on Kunshan --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary --- p.29 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH DESIGN / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Objectives --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Conceptual Framework: System Approach --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Components and Operation of a System --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Inputs --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Processes --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1.3 --- Outputs --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1.4 --- Feedback --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3 --- Research Framework and Design --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Case Study --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Documentary and Data Analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Interviews --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Fieldwork --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Limitations --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- OVERVIEW OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN KUNSHAN / Chapter 4.1 --- Local Development Conditions --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- Economy --- p.47 / Chapter 4.3 --- Population --- p.52 / Chapter 4.4 --- "Housing Conditions, Living Conditions and Education" --- p.54 / Chapter 4.5 --- Infrastructure --- p.55 / Chapter 4.6 --- Land --- p.56 / Chapter 4.7 --- Landscape --- p.57 / Chapter 4.8 --- Spatial Dimensions of Urban Development --- p.61 / Chapter 4.9 --- Summary --- p.66 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- ROLE AND INTERACTION OF PLAYERS IN THE PROCESS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT / Chapter 5.1 --- "Role of Government, Business Sector and Civil Society in Urban Development" --- p.67 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Government --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1.1.1 --- Recognizing and Realizing the Locational Advantage --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1.1.2 --- Improving the Quality of Life --- p.70 / Chapter 5.1.1.3 --- Maintaining Social Harmony --- p.70 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Business Sector --- p.71 / Chapter 5.1.2.1 --- Propelling Economic Growth --- p.72 / Chapter 5.1.2.2 --- Facilitating Economic Restructuring --- p.73 / Chapter 5.1.2.3 --- Enriching Social Life --- p.74 / Chapter 5.1.2.4 --- Helping Kunshan Catch up and Align Itself with Modem Cities --- p.75 / Chapter 5.1.2.5 --- Maintaining Social Harmony --- p.77 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Civil Society --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2 --- Economic Interaction --- p.80 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Pro-growth Coalitions between Government and the Business Sector --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- The 1980s: The Period of Sowing --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- The Early to Mid 1990s: The Period of Active Promotion --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2.1.3 --- The Late 1990s to 2007: The Emergence of a Coalition --- p.84 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Interaction within the Business Sector --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Interaction between the Manufacturing and Service Sectors --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Interaction within the Service Sector --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3 --- Social Interaction --- p.91 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Within Companies --- p.91 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Among Companies --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.96 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- THE IMPACT OF TAIWANESE ON URBAN CULTURE: THE CASE OF FOOD CULTURE / Chapter 6.1 --- Representation and Implication of the Nickname “Little Taipei´ح --- p.99 / Chapter 6.2 --- Four Case Studies of Food Shops in Kunshan --- p.100 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Restaurant A - Traditional Taiwanese Food Shop --- p.101 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Restaurant B - A Taiwanese International Catering Group --- p.105 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Restaurant C ´ؤ A General Local Food Shop --- p.109 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Restaurant D ´ؤ Ethnic Food Shop --- p.111 / Chapter 6.3 --- Analysis of the Food Culture in Kunshan --- p.114 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Taiwanese Food is Everywhere --- p.115 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Mainlanders and Taiwanese Interaction --- p.116 / Chapter 6.4 --- “Little Taipei´ح - How Far does It Go? --- p.117 / Chapter 6.5 --- Spatial Pattern of the Food Shops --- p.120 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.123 / Chapter CHAPTER SEVEN --- CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION / Chapter 7.1 --- Major Findings and Discussion --- p.124 / Chapter 7.2 --- Future Studies --- p.130 / BIBLIOGRAPHY / APPENDIX / Appendix One Questions to Mainlanders (in English) / Appendix Two Questions to Mainlanders (in Chinese) / Appendix Three Questions to Taiwanese (in English) / Appendix Four Questions to Taiwanese (in Chinese) / Appendix Five List of Interviewees / Appendix Six Standard of Well-off Society in Jiangsu Province