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

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

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

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

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

Doctor of Philosophy / Economics / Yang M. Chang / This dissertation consists of three essays in the field of household and family economics. Specifically, the research focuses on the optimal taxation and household behavior, gender inequality in the labor market during economics transition, and fertility choices and female labor supply. Chapter 1 explores the welfare implications of an optimal tax-transfer schedule to dual-earner couples. A non-cooperative model is used to examine labor supply decisions of married couples to both individual- and joint-based taxation, and the results suggest that the impact of income taxation on family labor supply is largely dependent on spouses' relative wage income. I also investigate the welfare effect of a governmental imposed re-distributive program on both spouses, the simulation results of moving from individual to joint taxation improves both spouses' well-beings and the welfare gain is higher for couples when income gap between the husband and the wife is larger. Chapter 2 empirically examines the impact of privatization reform on gender wage gap in urban labor market based on a comprehensive nationwide survey, the Chinese Household Income Projects (CHIP). We observe, between 1995 and 2007, the gender wage gap rises, and the progress of privatization increases women’s productivity. The results of decomposition suggest that the increase in gender discrimination, which is associated with the rapid growth of non-state sector, contributes to widening gender wage gap. Although privatization increase gender segregation in occupational attainments, it is less obvious that segregation can account for the gender wage gap. In Chapter 3, using the 1979 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79), we find mothers earn less on average even after controlling for other wage determinants. The wage penalty associated with motherhood is insignificant in the early career, and arises partly due to mothers accumulating less work experience. As a result, late mothers experience stronger (weaker) returns to work experience before (after) their transition to motherhood. The differentials in returns to work experience are robust to controlling for occupational skill requirements and time spent out of employment.

To Mei Ki. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2006-2007, design report." / Chapter I. --- Table of Content Introduction- Definition of Wastelands and Dormant land. --- p.p.1 / Chapter - --- History of Urban of Wasteland and Dormant Land. --- p.p.2-3 / Chapter II. --- Research- Urban Wastelands / Chapter i. --- Typology Definition: / Type 1- Triangle land --- p.p.4-5 / Type 2- Land under Flyover --- p.p.6-7 / Type 3- Land at roundabouts --- p.p.8-9 / Type 4- Land between street and street/rooad --- p.p.10-14 / Chapter ii. --- Case Study: Type 1 to Type 4 --- p.p.15-23 / Chapter iii. --- Pedestrians's Perspective in Hong Kong Case Study II: Solution of Urban Wasteland and dormant land in Hong Kong. --- p.p.24-29 / Chapter iv. --- Solution of Urban Wasteland and dormant land in different countries --- p.p.30-37 / Chapter III. --- Main Research- Overall view in Yau Ma Tei / Chapter i. --- Yau Ma Tei Case Study --- p.p.38-49 / Chapter ii. --- Summary of Urban Wasteland in Hong Kong --- p.p.50-52 / Chapter iii. --- Site Analysis in Sai Wan Ho --- p.p.53-56 / Chapter iv. --- Issues --- p.p.57-58 / Chapter v. --- Design Idea --- p.p.59-61 / Chapter IV. --- Design / Chapter i. --- Plan --- p.p.62-64 / Chapter ii. --- Section --- p.p.65-66 / Chapter iii. --- Design Feature --- p.p.67-75 / Chapter iv. --- Study Model --- p.p.76 / Chapter v. --- Final Model --- p.p.77-81

緊張、煩囂的城市生活加上擁擠的環境使都市居民承不同受環境問題的威脅，罹患疾病的風險亦隨之增加，不禁令人懷疑都市是否理想的居住地點，亦令其可持續發展潛力受質疑。不論國界，噪聲污染、壓力大以及認知超負荷 (cognition overload) 等都是都市居民所面對的問題，但要解決問題談何容易，尤其是這些問題都受都市密集的設計而變得更複雜，因此一個可以讓人逃避噪音和放鬆心情的地方就更顯重要。不同的研究都指出靜謐的環境，無論是在鄉郊或是都市，都可以提供以上的功能以及其他的好處 (Mayor of London, 2004; Pheasant et al., 2008, 2009a, 2009b, 2010; Environmental Protection UK, 2009)。雖然不少學者都認為靜謐環境十分重要，但就香港本地居民如何理解和看待「靜謐」這個概念和「靜謐環境」 (tranquil environments) 卻沒有有系統的研究，因此這項研究可以視為本地靜謐研究 (tranquility research) 的先驅。本研究在 2011 年 12 月至 2012 年 4 月在兩個市區公園進行問卷調查以了解本地居民的認知，研究結果顯示不同地域的人對「靜謐」這個概念有相同和不同的理解和領會，本土的文化會影響靜謐環境的建構。其他重要的研究結果包括：受訪者認為靜謐環境的主要功能讓人放鬆和減輕壓力，其次是逃避噪音污染和精神或心靈需要；九成的受訪者認同靜謐環境乃重要的資產應該得到關注和保護。除此之外，一個安靜的環境並不等同於靜謐的環境，一些有利的因素(例如：聲音、景色、設計或設施)也會令人感覺靜謐，所以靜謐環境並不只在郊外才可以找得到，只要配以適當的設計，都市都可以擁有靜謐空間。這個研究提供了的結果讓人了解靜謐環境的特點、功能和建構，有助保護靜謐空間和為都市設計提供建議。 / Urban livability and sustainability has been questioned as urban dwellers often suffer from various environmental and health problems. Noise pollution, high stress level and cognition overload are universal phenomena and environments allowing people to respite from noise and relax are therefore indispensable. Although various studies ascertained that tranquil spaces, no matter in rural or urban context, are able to serve the abovementioned functions and provide other benefits (Mayor of London, 2004; Pheasant et al., 2008; Watt et al., 2009a, 2009b, 2010; Environmental Protection UK, 2009), how local people of Hong Kong perceive tranquility is not fully understood. This research therefore is a pioneer study to investigate people’s perception on tranquility. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in two urban parks of Hong Kong during December 2010 to April 2011. Some main findings are that concept of tranquility does exist in the local culture and local culture influences its construct; relaxation and reduction of stress is the most important functions of tranquil areas, followed by respite from noise pollution and spiritual function; majority (90%) of the respondents agreed that tranquil areas are important assets that deserve attention and preservation. In addition, tranquil areas are not merely quiet environments but rather areas with presence of favourable sounds, features or facilities and they are not confined to countryside or rural areas neither. With suitable design, tranquil environments can be fabricated in urban context. These provide in-depth understanding of the notion of tranquility in the local context and offer guidelines for the enhancement and design of tranquil spaces and future planning. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chan, Sze Wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-110). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.viii / CHAPTER ONE / INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research background --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research objectives --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research significance --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Thesis outline --- p.6 / CHAPTER TWO / LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Noise problems in urban living space --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Sound and noise --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Causes of noise pollution and difficulties in elimination in urban living space --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Health problems posed by noise pollution in urban living environment --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- Tranquility and tranquil environments --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Relationship between tranquility, preference and danger --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Mapping of tranquility --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Tranquility rating tool --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Benefits of tranquility in urban living space --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- Knowledge gaps --- p.28 / CHAPTER THREE / METHODOLOGY / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research framework --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3 --- Research design --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Research methodology --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Pilot study --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Pilot study questionnaire design --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Social survey --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Site selection --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Social survey questionnaire design --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Data analysis --- p.42 / CHAPTER FOUR / RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISCUSSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2 --- Pilot study results --- p.43 / Chapter 4.3 --- Social survey results --- p.48 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Characterization of tranquil environments --- p.50 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Characterization of non-tranquil environments --- p.57 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Descriptors of tranquil environments --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Importance of tranquil environments --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Functions of tranquility --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Factors promoting or detracting from tranquility --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Location of tranquil and non-tranquil environments --- p.79 / CHAPTER FIVE / IMPLICATIONS OF TRANQUIL ENVIRONMENTS / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.84 / Chapter 5.2 --- Implications of tranquil environments --- p.84 / Chapter 5.3 --- Measures to manage and protect tranquil areas --- p.86 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Instruments monitoring tranquil environments --- p.87 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Environmental objectives addressing tranquil environments --- p.88 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Researching and networking --- p.90 / CHAPTER SIX / CONCLUSION / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.91 / Chapter 6.2 --- Summary of findings --- p.91 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations of the research --- p.95 / Chapter 6.4 --- Recommendations for further research --- p.96 / REFERENCES --- p.98 / Appendices --- p.112