Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem. Globally, the incidence and mortality of TB were 122 and 18 per 100 000 population in 2012, while TB notification and death rate were 67.9 and 2.8 per 100 000 population in Hong Kong. With improvement in diagnosis and case finding, the TB incidence, prevalence and mortality rate were descending. Also, TB treatment success and detection rates were increasing. TB is still an infectious disease leading to considerable burden in Hong Kong. Many studies have found seasonal pattern of TB in other countries or cities. However, the reason of seasonality of tuberculosis is still remain unknown. This dissertation assessed yearly trends and seasonal variability of tuberculosis and the potential impact of meteorological variables on seasonality of TB in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2012. The finding could help us to better understand the pattern and the factors associated with seasonality of TB, and to inform future TB research and health policy strategies for TB control. Method Firstly, we did a literature review of seasonality of TB. Then we assessed the disease burden, trends and seasonality of TB. The data of TB age-specific and sex-specific notifications and notification rate, TB disease form-specific notifications and meteorological observations are mainly aggregated sources downloaded from public websites. Descriptive analysis methods were used to assess the characteristics of disease burden of TB and analytical analysis methods were used to assess the trends of TB age-specific, sex-specific notification rates and disease form-specific TB notifications in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2012. We assessed the seasonality of TB in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2012 with a Serfling model. Lastly, we used linear regression model to assess the potential impact of the meteorological predictors on the seasonality. Results The mean TB notification rate and death rate were 83.4 and 3.6 per 100, 000 population respectively in 2001 -2012. The overall trends of TB notification rate and death rate are descending in Hong Kong for the period. The disease burden of TB was much higher but decline faster for men than that for female. For age-specific descending trends of disease burden of TB, the trends were faster as the age groups getting older. In most of the reviewed studies from 1971 to 2012,the peak of TB cases was mainly in spring and summer and trough in winter. The seasonal pattern of TB of some countries and cities had different characteristics stratified by factors such as gender, sex, latitude and disease form. Most of the studies suggested that vitamin D deficiency, indoor activities, meteorological observations and health care seeking behaviour are the main possible factors contributing to seasonality of TB. TB notifications in Hong Kong exhibited a peak in summer and trough in winter. Except duration of sunshine, all meteorological variables including temperature, humidity, and solar radiation were significantly associated with monthly TB notification rate. The final predictive model included predictors such as time, temperature and solar radiation. 1 deg. C increase in monthly mean temperature was associated with 0.12(with 95% CI of (0.084, 0.16)) per 100, 000 population increasing of TB monthly notification rate, while 1 MJ/m2increase in monthly global solar radiation was associated with 0.064(with 95% CI of (0.005, 0.12)) per 100, 000 population decreasing of TB monthly notification rate. By comparing different models, temperature seemed to explain the observed seasonal pattern, while solar radiation had a more independent effect. Conclusion The study showed a higher TB disease burden in male which increases with age. The peak season of TB transmission should be in winter. We suggest more effective TB control strategies focusing on target groups including children, elders and relapse cases. As a general measure, we may encourage outdoor activities and more exposure to sunlight. We also suggest further studies to explore the relationship between humidity and vitamin D deficiency and seasonality of TB. / 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 / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Macaques are valuable assets with conservation importance, which provides numerous benefits in ecological, economic and cultural aspects. Nevertheless, they also cause nuisances to humans worldwide including aggressive behavior, crop raiding, zoonotic disease transmission and adverse impacts on the environment. A number of management measures has been implemented such as population control and translocation. In Hong Kong, the authority currently implements diversion i.e. feeding ban and population control by reducing fertility i.e. contraceptive program as major macaque management measures. This study aimed to review and evaluate the macaque management measures in Hong Kong i.e. feeding ban and contraceptive program, with emphasis on macaque population dynamics, human-macaque interactions, human provisioning and macaque nuisance cases received by the authority. Macaque population data was retrieved from previous literatures and reports. Human-macaque interactions and human provisioning were studied by observations at four prime areas of these interactions. Number of macaque nuisance cases was obtained from the authority. It was found that feeding ban was effective in controlling human provisioning. The number of feeders and quantity of provisioned food monthly dropped by 91.3% and 90.5% respectively, after 15-year implementation of feeding ban. However, it seems not effective in reducing population growth and aggressive behaviors of macaques. On the other hand, population control by large-scale contraceptive program, which was launched in 2008, was found effective. The macaque abundance in surveyed heterosexual groups was reduced by 9.6% between 2010 and 2012 while proportion of juveniles and infants decreased to 37% in 2012 from 50% in 2010. Besides, there was steady decrease in macaque birth rate from 68.9% in 2008 to 30.2% in 2012. In addition, the number of nuisance cases received also shows a decreasing trend after implementation of contraceptive program. A total of 756 human-macaque interactions were observed during 128 hrs observation. The rate of human-macaque interactions and macaque aggressive behavior are 5.91 and 0.89 interactions per hour respectively. Both rates are not at high level when compared to the overseas studies. Over 87% of all human-macaque interactions occurred in the context of feeding. It implies that alteration in human behavior toward macaques such as not feeding them could reduce most of the human-macaque interactions in Hong Kong. This study concludes that feeding ban and contraceptive program are effective in controlling human provisioning and macaque population respectively. However, human-macaque interactions including aggressive behaviors cannot be reduced and eliminated, thus posing a risk of zoonotic disease transmission between human and macaque. Law enforcement should be strengthened to further eradicate human provisioning and prevent physical contact with macaques. Further researches should be carried out to study zoonotic disease from macaques and macaque ecology such as ranging behavior. More importantly, more public education and public participation are indispensable to successful macaque management in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

According to the “Tourism 2020 Vision” research on world tourism development forecast and assessment, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) foreseen that the total international tourists arrival will probably hit 1.6 billion by 2020. Tourism plays a vital role as being one of the key pillars in supporting Hong Kong’s economic growth. Ever since the launch of “Individual Visit Scheme” (IVC) ten years ago, Hong Kong has been drifting from an international tourist attractions destination to a mainland focused shopping paradise. However, this is not a sustainable and healthy situation in the long run. Firstly, the inbound city is now very crowed and being flooded with tourists, which is quite centralised. In order to meet the continuous growth of the tourists around the world, Hong Kong Government must continue to develop a wide range of diverse tourist attractions in Hong Kong to enhance the competiveness and further expand the tourism market segments. In this connection, Hong Kong Government should make use of the advantages from this spectacular geo-heritage, Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, to largely promote a new niche of eco-tourism in Hong Kong. The purpose of this study is to explore the different motivations behind tourists engaging in a geo-tourism experience and to investigate the behavioral intentions, preferences on geo-park. Also, this study aims to evaluate the willingness-to-pay regarding geo-touism products/services. All theses findings and recommendations are expected to provide a fundamental conceptual framework for government, geo-park managers and tour operators to make use of this information to setup some strategic market and management plan in respond to the needs and wants of the geo-tourists. All in all, they should make joint efforts to push geo-park forward to become another tourist’s hotspot. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

This dissertation studies a phenomenon, known as chanyehua 產業化or in English industrialisation, which is underway in the drama field of Hong Kong. The term industrialisation refers to an attempt to transform the Hong Kong drama field into a moneymaking industry which boosts local GDP and job growth. While this economic reconceptualization of the social function of local dramas receives support from businessmen, the government and some scholars, it irritates certain drama troupes in Hong Kong and as a result, these drama troupes turn hostile against industrialisation. On and On Theatre Workshop—the local drama troupe which this dissertation studies—is one of these dissident drama troupes. The relationship between industrialisation and On and On Theatre Workshop is the subject matter into which this dissertation delves. To dig deep into this subject matter, this dissertation analyses two drama productions produced by On and On Theatre Workshop—Hamletmaxhine and hamlet b.—which are closely related to the issue of industrialisation. In this dissertation’s analysis, both plays undertake two tasks. On the one hand, both plays oppose industrialisation by unveiling the drawbacks of industrialisation; on the other hand, both plays urge us to brood over whether the strategy of opposition is useful in tackling the problems caused by industrialisation. My reading of the plays suggests that opposition may not solve these problems, so even though industrialisation upsets certain local dramatists, these local dramatists may not find relief by inveighing against industrialisation. Hamletmaxhine and hamlet b. implicitly call for an alternative solution other than opposition to resolve the problems facing these dramatists. While the hammering of this alternative solution is outside of the scope of the present study, this dissertation propose the ontological reassessment of “little theatre”—redefining what “little theatre” means and does—is one possible direction to try. The introduction and chapter 1 of this dissertation study what industrialisation means and how the term comes into being historically. Chapter 2 reads Hamletmaxhine and hamlet b. as two plays that spotlight the downsides of industrialisation. Chapter 3 rereads Hamletmaxhine and hamlet b. as two plays that question whether opposition is a useful strategy to free dramatists from their troubles. / published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Philosophy

With the Urban Renewal Authority’s H18 redevelopment project, buildings within its project boundary, except those to be preserved, will be demolished and redeveloped. Since the study area is outside the project boundary, the street itself and hawker stalls on the street will continue exist. With the new structures and land use pattern behind, there will be impacts on the hawker stalls, the hawkers, as well as the Street Market. The outbreak of a serious fire incident at Fa Yuen Street on 30 Nov 2011 had called up the public concern on the fire risk induced by hawker stalls and its sustainability over time. By cultural mapping of the Cabinet-type fixed pitch on Graham Street Market, a heritage inventory is prepared for identification and analysis of the changes of hawker stalls as resulted from the above two transformative events. Further analysis on the sustainability of the hawker stalls and the Street Market has been made with consideration of historic cultural landscape approach in preservation of this hundreds year old Street Market. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

High counter top, full-height screen in front of main hall and accompanied with narrow staircase, which never see another end, pawnshop seems very mystery to everyone. Never having visited a pawnshop before, the author interviewed and tried to unfold this mysterious mask. Pawnbroking business is an interesting traditional business. It is full of old traditions and customs. Through more than eight months of research and several interviews, the author has documented and analyzed this old business in Hong Kong. Pawnbroking business is an ancient trade in the world. Although different countries have different traditions and practices, it is believed that it originated from a temple in China. It can be traced back to AD420-589. Sharing the same origin with China, Hong Kong pawnbroking business is still keeping its traditional business practices. However, little literature about the Hong Kong pawnbroking business can be found. Published documentations about the topic are not based on in-depth research. Besides, the general public and scholars tend to focus on the pawnshop building with little attention on its traditional trade. This paper aims to recognize the tangible and intangible features of pawnbroking by documentation of a traditional pawnshop in Hong Kong. Through the understanding of its significance, hopefully a way to preserve this traditional trade can be determined, raising the general public’s and scholar’s attention and keeping it sustainable in the future. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

At the famous Lan Kwai Fong area in Central, there exists a small red shrine that does not fit into the surrounding environment. Owing to its intimacy and convenience, people are fond of worshipping at this communal street shrine and it becomes one of the interesting street scenes in Hong Kong. This unique type of communal street shrines is commonly found in old urban districts of Hong Kong. Many of them have existed more than hundred years and have a specific group of worshippers. The worshippers voluntarily manage the daily operation of these shrines. For some larger shines, the voluntary managers organize different celebrations and ceremonies at the shrines every year. Due to the influence of globalization on the new generations and redevelopment at old urban districts, the voluntary support for these shrines in communities is gradually diminishing. The existence of these street shrines is much related to old communities that are being rapidly phased out by urban redevelopment. In UNESCO terms, these shrines can be considered as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.” This dissertation is only a starting point that may lead to ways to safeguard these endangered shrines. It does so by making an inventory of communal street shrines located in old urban districts on Hong Kong Island. Further studies are needed to thoroughly understand the heritage significance of these communal street shrines to the worshippers and nearby neighborhood as well as the social influence upon them. This dissertation emphasizes on the first step of the conservation process – documentation. It is with well-researched documentation that Hong Kong’s communal street shrines can be identified as the foci for safeguarding. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

Hong Kong was watched by the world when it was reverted to the People Republic of China (PRC) on 1st July 1997. Hong Kong was a British colony that was an important world trading, financial, and transportation center. Under British rule, Hong Kong was capitalist in contrast to the PRC, a socialist country ruled by the Communist Party. In the 1980s, when the PRC decided to resume sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the Chinese leaders created a new policy toward Hong Kong, called "one country, two systems". The policy meant that Hong Kong's system would remain unchanged for fifty years while the PRC would continue to be socialist after 1997. This thesis seeks to explore the PRC's development and application of united front work in the take over of Hong Kong. Chapter one examines the twin concepts of united front and "one country two systems" (chapter 1). Chapters 2 and 3 will examine how the Chinese used the united front in their successful handling of the Sino-British negotiations (chapter 2) and the drafting of the Hong Kong Basic Law (chapter 3). Chapter 4 analyses the implementation by the PRC of its Hong Kong policy through its agencies in Hong Kong after reaching the Sino-British agreement of 1984 (chapter 4), and how this process affected developments of politics (chapter 5), economics (chapter 6), and Hong Kong society as a whole (chapter 7). Chapter 8 (Conclusions) will assess the overall success of the PRC's use of united front work in its reunification policy.