Hong Kong's Environmental Challenges
The symbiotic relationship between Hong Kong and China has resulted in an economically powerful mainland and a thriving and attractive city. As a center of knowledge and technology, Hong Kong has proved a fertile ground of growth for China to experiment and build models upon. Its rapid growth in manufacturing, capital, and knowledge in the business is monitored by government regulation and policy to maintain a prolonged expansion for non-governmental organizations, private firms, and other individuals. NGO’s have worked on projects such as the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Hong Kong wetland and wildlife conservation and provide education and campaigns at schools. In addition, implementation of these policies protect environmental and health standards for the safety of its people and ecosystem. [1]
The establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 led to a series of dominoes that lifted Hong Kong to be one of the “four little dragons” of Asia. Though it prevented the expansion of Hong Kong to South China, it brought thousands of immigrants from the mainland – including powerful industrialists from Shanghai who moved their businesses to Hong Kong where cheap labor force was available. Textiles became a main industry that brought Hong Kong industrial power in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by plastics and then electronics, then a large export business. [2]
In late twentieth century, China faced massive political and economic change. The Open Door policy of 1978 forced China to open up trade to all countries – bringing in a massive inflow of foreign influence and outflow of wealth. Manufacturers such as the light industry in Hong Kong were moved out of the city into the Guangdong Province of the newly established Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at the south of mainland China. Hong Kong continued to push forward small to medium sized enterprises and was able to keep its economic strength, turning itself into a leading financial center of Asia. Its success led to the creation of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone (PRDEZ). [1]
The establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 led to a series of dominoes that lifted Hong Kong to be one of the “four little dragons” of Asia. Though it prevented the expansion of Hong Kong to South China, it brought thousands of immigrants from the mainland – including powerful industrialists from Shanghai who moved their businesses to Hong Kong where cheap labor force was available. Textiles became a main industry that brought Hong Kong industrial power in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by plastics and then electronics, then a large export business. [2]
In late twentieth century, China faced massive political and economic change. The Open Door policy of 1978 forced China to open up trade to all countries – bringing in a massive inflow of foreign influence and outflow of wealth. Manufacturers such as the light industry in Hong Kong were moved out of the city into the Guangdong Province of the newly established Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at the south of mainland China. Hong Kong continued to push forward small to medium sized enterprises and was able to keep its economic strength, turning itself into a leading financial center of Asia. Its success led to the creation of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone (PRDEZ). [1]
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- Loh, C. (2011). Hong Kong-mainland innovations in environmental protections since 1980. Asian Survey, 51(4), 610-632.
- Augustin-Jean, L. (2005). Urban Planning In Hong Kong and Integration with the Pearl River Delta: A Historical Account of Local Development. GeoJournal,Vol. 62(No. 1/2), 1-13. Retrieved March 17, 2015, from Jstor
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