The Role of Procedural and Institutional Design in Collaborative Action: An Empirical Study on the Joint Infrastructure Investments between Hong Kong and the Mainland

Abstract

Procedural and institutional design (PID) factors have been identified as a key collaborative capacity in the well-established Collaborative Governance Regime (CGR) framework. This dissertation examines the influence of PID factors on collaborative action by conducting a multiple-case study of collaborative cross-border infrastructure projects in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Using a unique opportunity provided by the “one country, two systems” principle that accommodates governments with different institutional arrangements in Hong Kong and mainland China, this research examines empirically the role of PID factors in collaborative action. The research finds a significant impact of PID factors on collaborative action. For example, the research finds that the impact of institutional design factors on collaborative action is more significant than the impact of procedural factors, and among various institutional design factors, the interaction between the legislature and the executive branch has the most significant influence on collaborative actions, especially with regard to project duration. These findings significantly enrich the research literature that so far has placed great importance on PID factors but has given very little explanation for its role in collaboration. This study theoretically contributes to our understanding of PID factors as a key capacity in collaborations and, practically, offers insights for policymakers and project managers on how to effectively collaborate in the GBA.

Date of Award	3 Sept 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Xiaohu WANG (Supervisor)