Economic and Political Factors that Lead to the Budget Deficit in Hong Kong from 1998 to 2003

Abstract

Despite the adverse impact of the budget deficit in Hong Kong has been alleviated since the economic recovery from 2003, the fiscal deficit may return when there is another downturn in the economy if the problem is not handled fundamentally. Based on the economic and political situation from 1998 to 2003, the factors that lead to the budget deficit in Hong Kong are analyzed in four perspectives, including (a) increase in public expenditure; (b) decrease in public revenues; (c) poor management of public money and (d) weak administration. With a better understanding on these factors, possible solutions to the fiscal problem faced by the government may be developed.     

Questioning the local: environmental regulation,shale gas extraction,and the politics of scale

ABSTRACT

The exploration and potential extraction of shale gas – better known as fracking – has emerged as one of the most contentious dimensions to local environmental politics in the UK. Local residents and environmental activists have raised concerns about health, noise, ground water contamination, seismicity, environmental amenity, and other impacts of the industry on communities. Despite the complexities of shale gas extraction, an emphasis on the local has shaped key dimensions of the debate around the appropriate location for well pads to the relative exclusion of other issues. This paper draws on fieldwork in Lancashire, UK, to reflect on the political construction of scale in order to explore how an emphasis on “the local” can restrict political debate over shale gas to narrow concerns with land-use planning thereby obviating a fuller engagement with wider questions concerning risk, energy policy, and climate change. It is concluded that a more nuanced conception of scale is necessary for understanding how concerns with shale gas are diminished rather than strengthened through the current planning policy and regulatory regime operating in the UK.     

生态渔业效益综合指标体系的研究

通过对湖北省现行生态渔业系统环境生态结构与功能效益的调查和评价，建立了生态渔业效益综合评价指标体系，为合理培植利用资源，保护生态环境，推进生态渔业经济发展，并对其类型结构不断优化与调控提供了决策参考。     

我国排污收费制度及其价格体系的改革

目前,我国现行的单因子超标排污收费制度及其价格体系已不能适应现有的体制变化和日益发展的环境管理需要。本文阐述了尽快建立一个与当今市场机制相适应的、适合我国总量控制要求的多因子收费制度的重要性、迫切性与可行性,实现污染者直接承担其污染行为的全部责任;提出了制定动态、有效的收费价格体系的改革原则、构想与方法。     

Risk and the neoliberal state: why post-Mitch lessons didn't reduce El Salvador's earthquake losses

Although El Salvador suffered light losses from Hurricane Mitch in 1998, it benefited from the increased international aid and encouragement for advance planning, especially mitigation and prevention interventions. Thus, one would have supposed, El Salvador would have been in a very advantageous position, able more easily than its economically crippled neighbours, Honduras and Nicaragua, to implement the 'lessons of Mitch'. A review of the recovery plan tabled by the El Salvador government following the earthquakes of early 2001 shows that despite the rhetoric in favour of 'learning the lessons of Mitch', very little mitigation and prevention had actually been put in place between the hurricane (1998) and the earthquakes (2001). The recovery plan is analysed in terms of the degree to which it deals with root causes of disaster vulnerability, namely, the economic and political marginality of much of the population and environmental degradation. An explanation for the failure to implement mitigation and preventive actions is traced to the adherence by the government of El Salvador to an extreme form of neoliberal, free market ideology, and the deep fissures and mistrust in a country that follow a long and bloody civil war.     

EMERGING CONCEPTS FOR THE CONDUCT OF STATE WATER RESOURES PLANNING1

ABSTRACT: The development of water resources planning at the state level is discussed. Although there are significant specific differences among state planning programs, some common general principles of state water resources planning are emerging over time. In the interest of reconciling conflict over water allocation states are engaged in policy clarification, mediation of interst group conflict, and provision of baseline information.     

基于投影评价方法的矿区资源环境承载力分析

矿区资源环境承载力是衡量矿区环境质量状况和环境容量受人类生产生活活动干扰能力的重要指标。笔者分析和建立矿区资源环境承载力评价指标体系及结构,运用矢量投影原理,建立了矿区资源环境承载力评价的多指标投影评价模型。该方法将评价样本视为矢量,用评价对象在理想对象上的投影距离表示矿区资源环境承载力状况,为矿区资源环境承载力评价提供一种更加符合客观实际的评价方法。以研究矿区为例,运用投影方法对其资源环境承载力现状趋势进行了评价,其结果表明与矿区实际相吻合,并为研究矿区的复合生态系统调控提供指导。     

Minimum Wet‐Season Flows and Levels in Southwest Florida Rivers1

Abstract: Regulation of river flows can result in decreased stage fluctuations and alteration of inundation patterns of floodplain wetlands. However, floodplain inundation has historically not been addressed in most minimum flow determinations. Florida law requires the water management districts of the state to establish minimum flows and levels to protect water bodies from significant harm associated with water withdrawals. The Southwest Florida Water Management District utilizes a 15% reduction in habitat criterion as a threshold for defining significant harm to freshwater segments of rivers. Utilizing a multi‐parameter approach and different habitat measures for seasonal flow periods, the District has recommended minimum flow compliance standards for the Alafia, Myakka and middle Peace rivers. For the high‐flow period, the District utilized a 15% reduction in the number of days of floodplain inundation (a temporal loss) as a significant harm threshold. This approach yielded allowable flow reductions of 8% for the Alafia and Peace rivers during the high‐flow season and a 7% allowable reduction of natural flows on the Myakka River. Comparison of changes in flows associated with temporal and spatial loss thresholds indicated that flow reductions required to effect a 15% spatial loss of habitat on the Alafia, Myakka and middle Peace rivers are higher than those that would yield a 15% temporal loss. This indicates that with respect to natural flow protection, the District’s consideration of temporal reductions in habitat for establishing minimum river flows for seasonal high‐flow periods is more conservative than the use of a spatial loss criterion.     

完善我国地质遗迹保护项目规划与设计的思考

地质遗迹保护项目的规划设计是重要的基础性工作，是决定工程实施以及由此产生的环境、经济、社会影响的重要因素。介绍了我国地质遗迹保护项目规划设计现状，总结了在规划设计和编制中存在的问题，并对保护规划设计方案提出了一系列对策建议。