Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail LinkIp Mei Sz, Grace (52222294)Lai Kwok Yiu, Antonio (52221746)Lau Hiu Tung, Winnie (52221377)

Outline

Content of XRL

Civic engagement process

Application of theory

Conclusion

Content of XRL

Status quo

•Existed railway system was backward▫Both passenger and goods use the same

railway

•The capacity of existed railway system was not enough▫The amounts of passenger doubling every

ten years since 1988

Aims

•Strengthen the transportation linkage between HK and China

•Further develop position of Hong Kong as a gateway out of the Pearl River Delta

•Achieve a better economic cooperation between the HK and China

•Referenced the success of Europe and Japan▫Construction of XRL as a key factors of

regional development

Other interesting reasons• PRC government announced the 11th five-year

plan▫Mention about the situation of HK▫Emphasized the construction of XRL▫However, the construction did not included HK

• Some professional considered HK would be marginalized▫E.g. Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies

from The Chinese University of Hong Kong• Stimulate the perception of CE

▫Construction of XRL became one of the Ten Major Infrastructure Projects

Detail• Known as Guangshengang XRL• One of the Ten Major Infrastructure Projects by Donald Tsang

Yam-kuen

• 66.9 billion for budget• 26 km for the length of system

• Connection▫ Kowloon, Hong Kong in the south▫ Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong in the north

• Top speed▫ Guangshen section: 350 km/h (220 mph)▫ Hong Kong section: 200 km/h (120 mph)

Benefits

•Reduce the travel time▫Journey time from HK to Guangzhou

reduced from 100 minutes to 48 minutes▫Only 10 hours for going Beijing

•Inspire the economic activities near the station or HK further

•Created job opportunities▫5, 500 during construction▫10, 000 in it’s operation

Implement agency

Government MTR

Time table of XRL2007

• As a item of Ten Major Infrastructure Projects

2008

• Executive Council start to discuss the construction of XRL

• MTR started the consultation

2010

• Legislative Council approve the funding application

• Construction initiation

2015

• Proposed to finish

The votes of XRL

•55 billion in funding XRL Project•11.8 billion in funding in others related to

XRLAgree Disagre

eNo. of votes

31 21

Supporter

•Government•MTR•Business Sector

▫Construction industry▫Tourism▫The property developer

•Functional Constituencies

Reasons of support

•Government▫Benefit to economic development▫Avoid HK to be marginalized▫Match the development of China

•MTR▫Interest group

•Business Sector▫Create investment opportunities

•Functional Constituencies▫Reflect the opinion of voters

Pro XRL Activity

•Rally outside the legislative council

•Establish Facebook group

Opponent

•Post 80s•Local residents

▫Choi Yuen Tsuen▫Tai Kok Tsui

•Pan-democratic parties ▫Democratic Party▫Civic Party▫League of Social Democrats

Reason of opposition

•Post 80s▫Not real high speed railway▫Could not benefit the resident of north NT▫The price of the ticket would be too high▫Government rejected the suggestion of the

public▫Lack of public consultation▫Lack of democratic elements

Reason of opposition

•Local residents▫Choi Yuen Tsuen

Unwilling to move Due to sense of belonging

Insuffience indemnification▫Tai Kok Tsui

Fear the construction would influence the structure of building

Reason of opposition

•Pan-democratic parties▫Reflected the opinion of voters▫Too expensive▫Force some people to leave their district▫Not enough consultation▫Lack of planning details

Anti XRL activity

•Demonstration (4 Jan 2010, 15 Jan 2010)•Rally outside the legislative council (8Jan

2010)•Ascetic ( 苦行 ) Start (4 -7 Jan 2010) •Establish Facebook group

Civic engagement process

4 Stages of Consultation (MTR)

• May – Aug 2008

First stage

• Sept – Nov 2008

Second stage • Dec

2008 –April 2009Third

stage

• May – Sept 2009

Forth stage

2 monthsStatutory Consultation

200828 Nov

200929 Jan

Consultation Meeting (District Council) 2008

Consultation Meeting (District Council) 2009

Application of theory

Distributive (Lowi)

Definition•Government distribute a good or service to some portion of the population•Typically paid for through general tax revenues

Application

•The XRL is a service for public•No specific tax

Five elements of policy design (Birkland)

•Strengthen the linkage between Hong Kong and China

The goals of the policy

•Construction of XRL•Enhance the competitiveness of Hong KongThe causal model

•Construction of infrastructureThe tools of the policy

•The public The targets of the policy

•HK government give the implementation to MTR through service concession agreement

Implementation of the policy

Rationalist model of decision making

•Clear definition of goals▫Refers to the aims of XRL

•Alternatives and consequences▫Location▫Route▫Construction method

•Best solution▫In the government’s stand point

Criticism

•Bounded rationality▫The data provided by government were

only estimation▫Possible outcomes and alternatives might

be neglected

The Stages ModelIssue emergence•The transportation linkage between HK and China was not strong enough

Agenda setting

Alternative selection•Location•Route•Construction method

Enactment•January 2010 approved funding

Implementation•April 2010 construction initiated

Conclusion

Conclusion

•XRL could bring long term benefit to HK•Consensus has not been established

before legislative council approved funding

•Increase of participation of public in the process of policy making

Thank you!!!

Reference• Lowi, T. J. (1972). Four Systems of Policy, Politics,

and Choice. Public Administration Review, 32 (4), 298-310.

• Birkland, T. A. (2005). An Introduction to the Policy process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.

• Yuen, Y. M., Shen, J. F. & Zhang, L. (2006). China’s 11 th Five-year Plan: Opportunities and Challenges for Hong Kong. Retrieved February 20, 2011 from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies Web site: http://www.bauhinia.org/publications/China11FYP-HK-FR-english.pdf

Reference• Calavera, M. (2008). The Role of Distributive

Policy in Federal Government. Retrieved February 21, 2011 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1282440/the_role_of_distributive_policy_in.html?cat=17

• 朱凱迪 (2009). 行政主導釋義 ( 廣深港高鐵及石崗菜園村系列 ). Retrieved February 26, 2011 from, Web site: http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1002679

• 朱凱迪 (2009). 仲衰過假諮詢 ( 廣深港高鐵與石崗菜園村系列 ). Retrieved February 4, 2011 from, Web site: http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1002532