Asia Pacific Viewpoint

Tang, Wing‐Shing; Chung, Him

2002 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00157

This paper takes issue with the desakota model developed by Terry McGee by elucidating the illegal land use and construction in the rural–urban transition zone in China, with the additional case study of Tianhe Village in Guangzhou City. The paper emphasises the need to examine the geography of illegal activities along the approach of geographies of difference. It has shown that illegal land use and construction is prevalent in rural China. In rural areas where cultivated land has been converted to non‐agricultural purposes, peasants are left with no alternative but to use land and construct buildings illegally. Some have increased their income by leasing out flats to migrant workers, whereas others have not been able to do this. This study has revealed that underneath the positive and integrative picture portrayed by the desakota model is its negative and disintegrative counterpart. Illegal land use and construction is one such example. Unless we incorporate both into our studies, we will not be able to comprehend the urban morphology of Chinese city regions in the new millennium.

Lin, George C.S.

2002 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00158

This study examines the processes of spatial restructuring in the Hong Kong–South China region. The paper analyses urban‐rural interaction in a historical and transnational context. Based on detailed census data collected in 1961 and 1996, this study traces the origins of the Hongkongers and maps out their spatial distribution according to their native place identities. The heightened population movement between the rural hinterland in the South China region and the Hong Kong metropolis is inseparable from territorial organisation on the Chinese mainland. The great spatial mobility demonstrated by the Hongkongers, or, their ‘refugee mentality’ as it is known, is found to be deeply rooted in their marginal sub‐ethnic identity in the nation. A systematic analysis of spatial data reveals that the diasporic landscape developed in Hong Kong has been polarised by the élite English and Shanghainese speakers on the one end and the Kejia people on the other end. Despite the processes of globalisation, the great spatial mobility of the Hong Kong sojourners and the diasporic landscape they have created have been effectively shaped by their place‐based ethno‐linguistic identities. If the transnational movement of people is considered an important component of globalisation, then this study reinforces the importance of locality and contests the fashionable notion of globalisation as a ‘placeless’ phenomenon. The seemingly displaced empire of Chinese diaspora capitalism, in which Hong Kong has played a crucial part, has remained grounded by pre‐existing place‐specific conditions.

Rimmer, Peter J.; Comtois, Claude

2002 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00159

China’s entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) exposes its state‐owned maritime, aviation and telecommunications operators to unprecedented competition. This development raises a series of critical issues about China’s transition from a state‐planned regime towards a real market economy. How will China’s leading state‐owned firms in deep‐sea container shipping, air passenger transport and telecommunications respond to the dilemma posed by the World Trade Organisation and to what extent has Hong Kong been involved in China’s transport and communications restructuring process? These broad issues are addressed by examining progress on the Chinese Government’s post‐1993 plans to restructure each of the key state enterprises in sea‐land transport, air transport and telecommunications. Specifically we are concerned with the degree to which China’s national champions in these transport and communications arenas have been remade into global players. Particular attention is paid to the role of Hong Kong in this transformation since its return to China in 1997. Our studies show that China has transformed its national champions into a global players in container shipping. The process may be beginning to happen in air transport but has yet to get underway in telecommunications.

2002 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00160

Book reviewed: Laurence R. Goldman (ed.), Social impact analysis: An applied anthropology manual Robert W. Hefner (ed.), Market cultures: Society and morality in the new Asian capitalisms Yasuhiro Nakasone, The making of new Japan: Reclaiming the political mainstream Arne Kalland and Gerard Persoon (eds.), Environmental movements in Asia Carl N. McDaniel and John M. Gowdy, Paradise for sale – A parable of nature Arthur P.J. Mol and David. A. Sonnenfeld (eds.), Ecological modernisation around the world: Perspectives and critical debates Martha C. Nussbaum, Women and human development: The capabilities approach Marcus Noland, Avoiding the apocalypse, the future of the two Koreas Philippe Papin, Histoire de Hanoi

2002 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00161