For the broad understanding of sustainable development, items such as seasonal change, timing of restrained harvesting and the rate of regeneration of natural resources, as well…
Abstract
For the broad understanding of sustainable development, items such as seasonal change, timing of restrained harvesting and the rate of regeneration of natural resources, as well as the theories of population growth are crucial. Similarly, in the world of computing as a whole and computing simulation in particular, three important components of models are theory, data and program. A model for global sustainability should include sub‐models for different resources and consumers in the ecological system. In this paper, a sample of sub‐models relating to areas such as human population growth, water, soil and land, greenhouse gases and CO2, conservation, forests and harvesting are listed, combined with other models such as pollution, waste treatment and ozone levels. The complexity of such simulations and their relevance to the current debate on sustainability are discussed.
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The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Strategy is an important component of the “Belt and Road Initiative” of China. The purpose of this Project is to develop the…
Abstract
Purpose
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Strategy is an important component of the “Belt and Road Initiative” of China. The purpose of this Project is to develop the GBA into the most open, market-oriented and innovative pole of economic growth in China. The GBA Project provides Hong Kong with a rare opportunity to diversify its industrial structure and to move into a new and higher stage of economic development.
Design/methodology/approach
Being an integral part of the GBA, Hong Kong is expected and supported by the Central Government to develop into a hub of the Area, and, leveraging on Hong Kong’s status as an international metropolis, to connect the Area as a whole with the world.
Findings
China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Project is a major national development strategy and is a major part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong is going to play an important role in the Project and will benefit from it enormously in the future in terms of economic growth and the upgrading of its industrial structure. However, in order to take full advantage of participation in the Project, the way Hong Kong is governed, particularly the government's role in economic development, has to be modified significantly.
Originality/value
In order to take advantage of the Project, the Hong Kong SAR Government has to play a bigger and more proactive role in Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development and to strengthen its capacity to mobilize societal participation in the Project.
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The purpose of this paper is to identify the major political and social effects of the Hong Kong National Security Law on Hong Kong. It is argued that the enactment of this Law…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the major political and social effects of the Hong Kong National Security Law on Hong Kong. It is argued that the enactment of this Law allows Hong Kong not only to end its protracted political turmoil since its return to China in 1997, but also will generate the favorable conditions for long-term stability and effective governance in the territory.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on the author’s close observation of what had happened in Hong Kong in the year since the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect on 1 July 2020.
Findings
The Hong Kong National Security Law has brought about significant changes in the political psychology of Hongkongers, the balance of power among different political forces, the ability of external forces to interfere in Hong Kong politics, the way Hong Kong is governed, the relationship between the government and the legislature, the activities in the educational and cultural sectors, and the behavior of the judiciary.
Originality/value
This paper would be of interest to scholars and people who are interested in the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) as well as Beijing’s new policy towards Hong Kong in the aftermath of Hong Kong’s unprecedented riots and violence.
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Yan-Jie Yang, Jengfang Chen, Qian Long Kweh and Hsin Chi Chen
– This study aims to examine the effect of the separation of control and ownership on the efficiency performance of Taiwanese electronics firms.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effect of the separation of control and ownership on the efficiency performance of Taiwanese electronics firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper employs data envelopment analysis to estimate efficiency performance. Following Kuan et al., the paper measures the severity of a firm's agency problems using the difference between voting rights and cash flow rights, and the difference between seat control rights and cash flow rights. Using a panel dataset for the period from 2004 to 2010, the paper runs OLS regressions to find the relationship between efficiency performance and the separation of control and ownership.
Findings
The results show that both the divergence between voting rights and cash flow rights, and the divergence between seat control rights and cash flow rights are significantly and negatively related to efficiency performance. Using Tobit regression in the second stage also provides a consistent result.
Research limitations/implications
Shareholders, especially the minority group, should think twice before investing in a firm with a high deviation of control and ownership.
Originality/value
This is the first paper to examine the effect of the separation of control and ownership on the efficiency performance of Taiwanese electronics firms. The empirical evidence suggests existence of negative entrenchment effects in the electronics industry in Taiwan.
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The incredible tempo of the ongoing process of social change in the People's Republic of China has led to profound shifting and reorganization in society. The social structure has…
Abstract
The incredible tempo of the ongoing process of social change in the People's Republic of China has led to profound shifting and reorganization in society. The social structure has become more complex and diversified, new social groups have emerged such as private business people and migrant workers. The gap between the wealthy and the poor is increasing and structures determining status and income are widely divergent.
The purpose of this paper is to make sense of the slow and frustrating process of democratization in Hong Kong through understanding the pan-democrats’ struggle for realizing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to make sense of the slow and frustrating process of democratization in Hong Kong through understanding the pan-democrats’ struggle for realizing universal suffrage. It aims to offer possible explanations for the current political impasse between Hong Kong and mainland China over the issue of universal suffrage.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper seeks to construct a triangular model of institutional constraint, clashing visions of democracy and mutual political distrust for understanding the pan-democrats’ struggle for realizing universal suffrage in Hong Kong since the 1980s, the nature of current political predicament they found themselves in and the current political impasse between the pan-democrats and Beijing.
Findings
The dilemma facing Hong Kong’s pan-democrats and Beijing’s leadership is attributed to the institutional constraints of Basic Law on Hong Kong’s system of governance, the clashing visions of Beijing-led Chinese-style democracy and Western-style liberal democracy as advocated by the pan-democrats and the mutual political distrust between the two parties. The findings suggest that this triangular model will remain relevant in understanding the political predicament of the pan-democrats under Chinese rule and the political impasse between Hong Kong and mainland China over universal suffrage for the coming decades.
Originality/value
This paper provides a new interpretation of the current political impasse between Hong Kong and mainland China over the issue of universal suffrage. It offers new insights into the nature of current political predicament the pan-democrats found themselves in amidst their fight for realizing universal suffrage since the 1980s by constructing a triangular model of institutional constraints, clashing visions of democracy and mutual political distrust.
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Rostam Zalvand, Mohammad Mohammadian and Mohammad Meskarpour Amiri
There is not enough comprehensive evidence on factors affecting hospital costs and revenue (HCR). The main objective of the current study is to identify and classify factors…
Abstract
Purpose
There is not enough comprehensive evidence on factors affecting hospital costs and revenue (HCR). The main objective of the current study is to identify and classify factors affecting HCR integrating experts' opinions and literature review.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a restricted literature review is conducted to identify the factors affecting HCR. In the second step, the targeted semi-structured interviews are conducted with 15 experts to identify, validate and classify the latent factors.
Findings
In addition to the factors identified through the literature review, 22 new important factors were added by the experts as the determinants of HCR, which were not pointed out in previous studies. The final model presented for the factors affecting HCR contains seven main groups, 22 subgroups and 70 variables.
Originality/value
Factors affecting HCR will provide valuable contributions for hospital budgeting, and financial and strategic planning, and they will offer an effective horizon for future research on cost-cutting strategies.
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Chi‐Yuang Yu, Yau‐Wen Hsu, Yi‐Chan Chung and Chih‐Hung Tsai
The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of self‐reported musculoskeletal symptoms among the three Taiwan’s traditional industries as lathe, electronics and food by…
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of self‐reported musculoskeletal symptoms among the three Taiwan’s traditional industries as lathe, electronics and food by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Moreover, the study was also to make a comparision among the aforesaid industries for revealing their differences. The result of the questionnaire indicated that the symptoms appeared on the three industries were all originated from four parts as neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists/hands. More than 68 per cent of the interviewers’s thought that their symptoms might be related to their work. However, the rate of harmful influence resulted from life or job was over 50 per cent. As to the respect of the interviewers’ attitude in treating their symptoms, more than 80 per cent of them neglected or just treated the symptoms by massaging or cold/hot compressing and resting. From the questionnaire, the proportion of symptoms discussed in each item inicated that the distribution, in perceiving symptom, of interviewers were not quite identical; however the Chi‐square test discovered majority did not reach 0.05 levels, hence the difference among industries were not significant.
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Shiaw‐Wen Tien, Yi‐Chan Chung, Chih‐Hung Tsai, Yung‐Kuang Yang and Min‐Chi Wu
A life‐cycle assessment (LCA) is based on the attention given to the environment protection and concerning the possible impact while producing, making, and consuming products. It…
Abstract
A life‐cycle assessment (LCA) is based on the attention given to the environment protection and concerning the possible impact while producing, making, and consuming products. It includes all environmental concerns and the potential impact of a product’s life cycle from raw material procurement, manufacturing, usage, and disposal (that is, from cradle to grave). This study assesses the environmental impact of the ultra pure water process of semiconductor manufacturing by a life‐cycle assessment in order to point out the heavy environmental impact process for industry when attempting a balanced point between production and environmental protection. The main purpose of this research is studying the development and application of this technology by setting the ultra pure water of semiconductor manufacturing as a target. We evaluate the environemntal impact of the Precoat filter process and the Cation/Anion (C/A) filter process of an ultra pure water manufacturing process. The difference is filter material used produces different water quality and waste material, and has a significant, different environmental influence. Finally, we calculate the cost by engineering economics so as to analyze deeply the minimized environmental impact and suitable process that can be accepted by industry. The structure of this study is mainly combined with a life‐cycle assessment by implementing analysis software, using SimaPro as a tool. We clearly understand the environmental impact of ultra pure water of semiconductor used and provide a promotion alternative to the heavy environmental impact items by calculating the environmental impact during a life cycle. At the same time, we specify the cost of reducing the environmental impact by a life‐cycle cost analysis.