This research aims to examine the interactions, transformation and implications of
the government-business relations of entrepreneurial families in Mainland China,
Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The similarities and differences of their operational
patterns, strategies and impacts are also investigated. Establishing the political
dimension as the foundation for this study enables this research to enrich the
understanding of Chinese entrepreneurial families and address the gaps of
conventional theories.
Three influential entrepreneurial families in the cross strait tri-region—the Rong
family in Wuxi, the Koo family in Taiwan and the Fok family in Hong Kong—are
examined, with the application of clientelism and corporatism as the theoretical
framework for analysis. Traditional Chinese values on business and businessmen
are integrated into the theoretical discussion that serves as the basis of critical
review of conventional theories and formulation of a new government-business
relations theory relevant to the context of Chinese societies. All assumptions
leading to such a theory are substantiated through conducting historical reviews
and empirical analysis. This research primarily adopts a qualitative approach,
using multiple case studies, historical and literature review, document analysis
(including opened secret archives), in-depth interviews and field research.
The research argues that such relations are rooted in the traditional Chinese
cultural values and ideologies. With the support of party-state apparatus, or state
apparatus, as well as operational mechanisms at both an individual and
organizational level, the party-state-led or government-led government-business
relations are established and sustained through various pathways. They also come
as an embodiment of political alliance as the individual and organizational
frameworks of corporatism interact and modify each other. It is asserted that an
underlying mechanism is in constant operation to sustain the relational dynamics,
but that such a mechanism cannot be explained in terms of legal considerations.
The government-business relations of Chinese entrepreneurial families present
cooperation but not opposition, and emphasize mutual dependence, trust and
loyalty, which cannot be satisfactorily interpreted with clientelism. Public interests,
or at least the coexistence of public and private interests, characterize the
collaboration between the two parties in question. This research further reveals
that entrepreneurial families undertake more political costs and risks than general
family enterprises. This in turn provides proof of both the positive and the
negative sides of political capital, which can potentially evoke extreme effects and
constitute unstable factors for the development of entrepreneurial families. This
understanding deviates from the past discourse which upholds the view that
participation in government-business relations brings reasonable expectations
about acquiring more interests on the part of entrepreneurial families. A
comprehensive analysis of the involved interests and costs, opportunities and
crises, as well as contributions and disadvantages confronting entrepreneurial
families as a consequence of engaging in such government-business relations?as
well as the manifestation of the distinctive operational models underlying such
relations?are the important contributions made by this research. / published_or_final_version / Humanities and Social Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:HKU/oai:hub.hku.hk:10722/208419 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Zhou, Wengang, 周文港 |
| Publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) |
| Source Sets | Hong Kong University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | PG_Thesis |
| Rights | The author retains all proprietary rights, (such as patent rights) and the right to use in future works., Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License |
| Relation | HKU Theses Online (HKUTO) |
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