CROSS-BOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL UNDER “ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS”: PERSPECTIVES FROM HONG KONG–GUANGDONG COLLABORATION

Abstract

This study aims to examine how “One Country, Two Systems” has shaped and influenced the collaboration on cross-boundary air pollution control between the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Guangdong province. The presence of the Chinese central government significantly fostered the start of this collaboration, but the implementation and collaborative relationship were relatively weak and unsustainable due to the two local governments’ largely different interests, goals and political demands. We found that the emphasis on “One Country” especially after 2003 led to the signature of more joint agreements in comparison with what the emphasis on “Two Systems” did between 1997 and 2003. Joint agreements appear to be necessary conditions for effective collaboration, but too many of them without satisfying implementation could have resulted in less concrete benefits. A balanced stress on “One Country” and “Two Systems” might bring an appropriate number of joint agreements with good implementation for more effective collaboration.