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Land And The Ruling Class In Hong Kong
This edition is the Original Edition of the title. It discusses how the land system in Hong Kong, inherited from the British, has helped to create unrivaled wealth for the ruling class and how the lack of competition law has encouraged industrial and economic concentration in these same entities. Arguing that the land system, industrial concentration, and phenomenal wealth imbalance have given rise to a host of social and economic ills, the concise analysis concludes by offering solutions to heal Hong Kong of these problems. This Edition was rated as Editor's Choice: Scholarly in September/October 2007 by Canadian Book Review Annual.
In July 2010 a Chinese edition of the title - "地產霸權" - was co-published by Enrich Publishing Ltd. and Hong Kong Economic Journal Co. Ltd. (ISBN 9789881921871). Yazhou Zhoukan (Asia Weekly) voted it as ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS (NON-FICTION)IN GREATER CHINA FOR 2010. It also won the 4th Year Hong Kong Book Prize in June 2011.
In January 2011 Enrich Professional Publishing (S) Private Ltd. published a thoroughly revised and updated Second English Edition with the addition of a new chapter (ISBN 9789814339100).
In July 2010 a Chinese edition of the title - "地產霸權" - was co-published by Enrich Publishing Ltd. and Hong Kong Economic Journal Co. Ltd. (ISBN 9789881921871). Yazhou Zhoukan (Asia Weekly) voted it as ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS (NON-FICTION)IN GREATER CHINA FOR 2010. It also won the 4th Year Hong Kong Book Prize in June 2011.
In January 2011 Enrich Professional Publishing (S) Private Ltd. published a thoroughly revised and updated Second English Edition with the addition of a new chapter (ISBN 9789814339100).
162 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Alice Poon
6 books321 followersBorn and raised in Hong Kong, Alice Poon received a fully bilingual (English and Chinese) education and also learned French in her youth.
Since the release of her two historical Chinese novels: The Green Phoenix and Tales of Ming Courtesans, nostalgia for the magical world of wuxia fiction, which she grew up with, has spurred her desire to write in the Chinese fantasy genre. With the passing of the wuxia fiction icon Jin Yong in 2018, she has felt an urge to help to preserve his legacy and to promote this unique genre of Chinese folk literature to a wider global audience.
Overall, inspiration for her fiction writing comes from Jin Yong’s wuxia novels, the wuxia/xianxia media, and French and Russian realist classics.
She lives in Greater Vancouver, Canada and wishes to indulge herself in putting her imagination on the page.
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December 5, 2017The Original Edition of "Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong" (December 2005) was rated as Editor's Choice: Scholarly by Canadian Book Review Annual in September/October 2007.
The Chinese Edition "地產霸權" (July 2010) won the 4th Year Hong Kong Book Prize in June 2011.
Here's the full review of the Original Edition by Gary Watson from Canadian Book Review Annual:-
"Oligopoly pays." That’s the chief lesson emerging from Alice Poon’s excellent survey of Hong Kong’s real estate and infrastructure economies. Although Hong Kong is often characterized as one of the world’s freest economies, it is in fact controlled by a handful of wealthy individuals and companies who stifle—rather than encourage—competition.
Poon dissects the sinews of Hong Kong "big money" and isolates its key components, those being legislative and legal sway over land and competitive policies. Hong Kong’s biggest fortunes owe their growth and security to dominance over a wide spectrum of businesses ranging from transport, public utilities, supermarkets, and food distribution to, most importantly, land development. Huge amounts of real estate are developed by a handful of large companies who control all aspects of supply, construction, and property management. Indeed, the usual hallmarks of classically defined competitive markets are nearly absent; instead, Hong Kong’s market structure suffers from steep barriers to entry and government policies that serve to bolster the market positions of a half dozen huge conglomerates.
The situation of near-anarchy for Hong Kong’s corporate heavyweights may make for impressive annual reports but does little to relieve Hong Kong’s mounting social and economic tensions. Poon carefully details how government "of the rich, by the rich, for the rich" in Hong Kong has damaged civil norms and deprived its population of economic security and well-being. Not surprisingly, articulate protest groups have lodged forceful criticism of "business as usual" and gained widespread support, proving that discontent is deep-seated and justified.
Poon’s concise, well-argued analysis is one of the few available English-language sources on Hong Kong’s predicament. While Hong Kong’s once-vigorous and argumentative press has lost its teeth following the takeover, new outlets such as blogs have assumed huge importance as a barricade for free expression and democratic principles. With Shanghai rapidly eclipsing Hong Kong as the banking and finance powerhouse for China’s breakneck growth, there’s a chance that competition may in fact re-emerge and make for the kind of "popular" entrepreneurship long absent in Hong Kong.
Gary Watson
Canadian Book Review Annual
The Chinese Edition "地產霸權" (July 2010) won the 4th Year Hong Kong Book Prize in June 2011.
Here's the full review of the Original Edition by Gary Watson from Canadian Book Review Annual:-
"Oligopoly pays." That’s the chief lesson emerging from Alice Poon’s excellent survey of Hong Kong’s real estate and infrastructure economies. Although Hong Kong is often characterized as one of the world’s freest economies, it is in fact controlled by a handful of wealthy individuals and companies who stifle—rather than encourage—competition.
Poon dissects the sinews of Hong Kong "big money" and isolates its key components, those being legislative and legal sway over land and competitive policies. Hong Kong’s biggest fortunes owe their growth and security to dominance over a wide spectrum of businesses ranging from transport, public utilities, supermarkets, and food distribution to, most importantly, land development. Huge amounts of real estate are developed by a handful of large companies who control all aspects of supply, construction, and property management. Indeed, the usual hallmarks of classically defined competitive markets are nearly absent; instead, Hong Kong’s market structure suffers from steep barriers to entry and government policies that serve to bolster the market positions of a half dozen huge conglomerates.
The situation of near-anarchy for Hong Kong’s corporate heavyweights may make for impressive annual reports but does little to relieve Hong Kong’s mounting social and economic tensions. Poon carefully details how government "of the rich, by the rich, for the rich" in Hong Kong has damaged civil norms and deprived its population of economic security and well-being. Not surprisingly, articulate protest groups have lodged forceful criticism of "business as usual" and gained widespread support, proving that discontent is deep-seated and justified.
Poon’s concise, well-argued analysis is one of the few available English-language sources on Hong Kong’s predicament. While Hong Kong’s once-vigorous and argumentative press has lost its teeth following the takeover, new outlets such as blogs have assumed huge importance as a barricade for free expression and democratic principles. With Shanghai rapidly eclipsing Hong Kong as the banking and finance powerhouse for China’s breakneck growth, there’s a chance that competition may in fact re-emerge and make for the kind of "popular" entrepreneurship long absent in Hong Kong.
Gary Watson
Canadian Book Review Annual
June 14, 2011
HD943.2 P6612 2010
作者深入剖析香港地產業的運作與結構,指出各地產商已從地產事業擴展至公用及零售服務業;嚴重影響各香港階層,阻礙市場公平發展.書中所述的,可讀性極高.
作者深入剖析香港地產業的運作與結構,指出各地產商已從地產事業擴展至公用及零售服務業;嚴重影響各香港階層,阻礙市場公平發展.書中所述的,可讀性極高.
July 30, 2011
The author merely describe things and putting together. There's not enough proof that one incidence is the cause of another. I can't see the logic throughout the book. Only linking facts together and trying to correlate them, totally tautological!
August 12, 2014
Really interesting read. If you want to know what Hong Kong is about then this is a must read. Good insights and details about how the property developers have control in Hong Kong. Would be interesting if there was an updated chapter of some of the more recent policies in Hong Kong.
July 29, 2024
LAND MONOPOLY is not the only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies -- it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.
- Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
消除地產霸權！ 嚴禁壟斷資本！ 促進真自由競爭！
地產霸權是香港產業轉型的桎梏！全港企業的成本競爭力與利潤率都可望大幅度升漲！
「消除地產霸權，為香港人‘結構性解決’居住問題。」
反修例風波和新冠肺炎疫情都淪為地產霸權吸納廉價土地的絕佳機會。甚至在未改壟斷資本的經濟模式之下，明日大嶼填海得來的土地都必將會落入地產霸權的手裡而已。因此消除地產霸權的壟斷資本的同時，增加土地供應才會有意義。
從事政治或研究政治經濟，社會的中文讀者最應該閱讀的香港書籍正是這本書。關於香港統治階級（其主要部分是以本地地產業為主的壟斷資本跨國多行業企業財團）的書籍當中，這本書仍然是最重要的研究書。無庸置疑，此本也是香港本土出版的經典。目前在表面的國安法滅聲風波當中，香港政治的實際整體目標是如何為壟斷資本的寡頭們而順利推動明日大嶼工程項目。香港政治經濟是由壟斷資本主宰的，而不是所謂虛幻的自由競爭主導的。只要壟斷資本集團存在，就不會有自由競爭。 壟斷資本是自由市場的否定。誠然，香港的高樓價是壟斷的市場操縱的結局，而不是自由競爭的結局。
此書的結論是反壟斷。
換言之，重啟八萬五政策；全面擴大既有競爭條例的適用範圍；土地和稅收制度的改革；一國內反壟斷法的全面貫徹實施，或是人大推動港區反壟斷法。
- Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
消除地產霸權！ 嚴禁壟斷資本！ 促進真自由競爭！
地產霸權是香港產業轉型的桎梏！全港企業的成本競爭力與利潤率都可望大幅度升漲！
「消除地產霸權，為香港人‘結構性解決’居住問題。」
反修例風波和新冠肺炎疫情都淪為地產霸權吸納廉價土地的絕佳機會。甚至在未改壟斷資本的經濟模式之下，明日大嶼填海得來的土地都必將會落入地產霸權的手裡而已。因此消除地產霸權的壟斷資本的同時，增加土地供應才會有意義。
從事政治或研究政治經濟，社會的中文讀者最應該閱讀的香港書籍正是這本書。關於香港統治階級（其主要部分是以本地地產業為主的壟斷資本跨國多行業企業財團）的書籍當中，這本書仍然是最重要的研究書。無庸置疑，此本也是香港本土出版的經典。目前在表面的國安法滅聲風波當中，香港政治的實際整體目標是如何為壟斷資本的寡頭們而順利推動明日大嶼工程項目。香港政治經濟是由壟斷資本主宰的，而不是所謂虛幻的自由競爭主導的。只要壟斷資本集團存在，就不會有自由競爭。 壟斷資本是自由市場的否定。誠然，香港的高樓價是壟斷的市場操縱的結局，而不是自由競爭的結局。
此書的結論是反壟斷。
換言之，重啟八萬五政策；全面擴大既有競爭條例的適用範圍；土地和稅收制度的改革；一國內反壟斷法的全面貫徹實施，或是人大推動港區反壟斷法。
June 8, 2017
A good overview of the influence of property developers have on the HK economies
September 4, 2024
发现自己当时其实写了东西，补发。
该书作者曾在香港地产商从业。在本书中，她论证了在政府政策的支持下，跨行业垄断的地产商操纵了与市民生活息息相关的各大领域，操纵香港此类商品和服务的价格，从中谋取暴利。为此，她建议推行低地价政策、最低工资和集体谈判权、累进税、地价税等。本书最初于2005年以英文版Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong发行，2010年译成中文。
然而，我个人认为她存在如下几个问题。
第一，缺少对现状成因的分析。她主要是介绍现状如何，以及相关的现状与哪一个政策有关联，但对为什么要推行这样的政策、谁支持推行这样的政策、为什么不采取其他政策（如她建议的几个政策）等，她的分析是比较缺乏的。
第二，缺少对相关政治制度的分析。这其实算是前一个问题的一部分。作者认为香港实际上可以说是个“新封建制度”，广大市民人身从属于少数特权集团，而政府依靠这个集团进行管治。然而，她主要论证重点是在“政府亲商”一面，但政府缘何亲商？为何政府要依靠地产商集团进行管治？她并没有提及，而这就需要涉及香港特殊的政治制度，需要探讨地产商在立法和行政方面如何掌握特权，从而绑架政府。值得一提的事，她在2010年为中文版写的前言中提到：“除非土地和税收制度彻底改革……只有民选政府才可以解决改革土地和税收制度的艰巨工作”，可见在2005-2010年这几年间她本人也开始注意到了这个问题。
第三，作者改良主义倾向明显，本书语言风格几乎算是向政府建言。作者拼尽力气想要劝说政府改变政治制度，甚至说“如果政府不采取补救行动，纠正土地及房屋政策所带来的问题，该受责备的应该是政府，而不是大地产商”，仿佛政府是个超然的、有决策能力的主体，而大地产商只是遵守了政府的政策似的。作者虽然在书名中用了Ruling Class一词，但却没有意识到政府本身就是统治阶级的利益代表，还努力向政府建言献策，这当然是徒劳无功。另外，作者最初选择以英文发行本书，可见她当时根本就没有想到，能够推翻甚至只是压制一下地产霸权的人，绝不在金钟政府总部大楼和立法会大楼里，而是遍布全港各地为生计而奔波操劳的市民。
第四，对待中央政府的态度。作者在书中回顾地价历史时有提到《中英联合声明》每年限制卖地50公顷的影响，以及多次提到特区政府承继港英政府的亲商政策。然而，中央政府和中央的利益在其中起到了什么作用？为什么回归后特区政府还沿袭着很多殖民地时期的政策，即使它被广大市民批判？作者对中央避而不谈，仿佛是特意地“为尊者讳”似的。更有可能的是，作者缺乏深度分析，流于表面的现状和政策，而现状是地产商干的，具体政策是特区政府出台的，自然她就看不到中央意志的作用。而事实上，中央的官僚资产阶级作为香港另一个统治阶级，它与本地的大地产商有基本的共同利益——维系香港现行的新自由主义垄断资本主义体制，压制香港人民的反抗——因而也互相利用。可以想像，如果中央不改变意志，那么即使是民选政府也不可能动摇地产商的霸权地位；如果香港政府一旦民选就一定会这么做，那么中央就不会让香港有民选政府。
第五，重复内容较多。在我看来本书的架构大体是：第一章说明大地产商跨行业垄断现状，第二章简要介绍香港有利于大地产商的政策及其效果，第三、四、五章分别从公用事业、土地房屋业、经济民生三个方面进行具体的介绍，第六章提出作者的建议。然而，总起的前两章和中间三章重复的点过多，具体介绍的三章也没有详细多少；最后一章提的建议不少在前面都已提及，而她在最后一章也没有把建议说得更具体。因而，豆瓣有一些人评价“车轱辘话”太多。
但总之，作为入门了解的书籍，本书有它的价值；以及由于本书中文版在香港产生了相当的影响力，因而也是了解香港社会的必读书目。
该书作者曾在香港地产商从业。在本书中，她论证了在政府政策的支持下，跨行业垄断的地产商操纵了与市民生活息息相关的各大领域，操纵香港此类商品和服务的价格，从中谋取暴利。为此，她建议推行低地价政策、最低工资和集体谈判权、累进税、地价税等。本书最初于2005年以英文版Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong发行，2010年译成中文。
然而，我个人认为她存在如下几个问题。
第一，缺少对现状成因的分析。她主要是介绍现状如何，以及相关的现状与哪一个政策有关联，但对为什么要推行这样的政策、谁支持推行这样的政策、为什么不采取其他政策（如她建议的几个政策）等，她的分析是比较缺乏的。
第二，缺少对相关政治制度的分析。这其实算是前一个问题的一部分。作者认为香港实际上可以说是个“新封建制度”，广大市民人身从属于少数特权集团，而政府依靠这个集团进行管治。然而，她主要论证重点是在“政府亲商”一面，但政府缘何亲商？为何政府要依靠地产商集团进行管治？她并没有提及，而这就需要涉及香港特殊的政治制度，需要探讨地产商在立法和行政方面如何掌握特权，从而绑架政府。值得一提的事，她在2010年为中文版写的前言中提到：“除非土地和税收制度彻底改革……只有民选政府才可以解决改革土地和税收制度的艰巨工作”，可见在2005-2010年这几年间她本人也开始注意到了这个问题。
第三，作者改良主义倾向明显，本书语言风格几乎算是向政府建言。作者拼尽力气想要劝说政府改变政治制度，甚至说“如果政府不采取补救行动，纠正土地及房屋政策所带来的问题，该受责备的应该是政府，而不是大地产商”，仿佛政府是个超然的、有决策能力的主体，而大地产商只是遵守了政府的政策似的。作者虽然在书名中用了Ruling Class一词，但却没有意识到政府本身就是统治阶级的利益代表，还努力向政府建言献策，这当然是徒劳无功。另外，作者最初选择以英文发行本书，可见她当时根本就没有想到，能够推翻甚至只是压制一下地产霸权的人，绝不在金钟政府总部大楼和立法会大楼里，而是遍布全港各地为生计而奔波操劳的市民。
第四，对待中央政府的态度。作者在书中回顾地价历史时有提到《中英联合声明》每年限制卖地50公顷的影响，以及多次提到特区政府承继港英政府的亲商政策。然而，中央政府和中央的利益在其中起到了什么作用？为什么回归后特区政府还沿袭着很多殖民地时期的政策，即使它被广大市民批判？作者对中央避而不谈，仿佛是特意地“为尊者讳”似的。更有可能的是，作者缺乏深度分析，流于表面的现状和政策，而现状是地产商干的，具体政策是特区政府出台的，自然她就看不到中央意志的作用。而事实上，中央的官僚资产阶级作为香港另一个统治阶级，它与本地的大地产商有基本的共同利益——维系香港现行的新自由主义垄断资本主义体制，压制香港人民的反抗——因而也互相利用。可以想像，如果中央不改变意志，那么即使是民选政府也不可能动摇地产商的霸权地位；如果香港政府一旦民选就一定会这么做，那么中央就不会让香港有民选政府。
第五，重复内容较多。在我看来本书的架构大体是：第一章说明大地产商跨行业垄断现状，第二章简要介绍香港有利于大地产商的政策及其效果，第三、四、五章分别从公用事业、土地房屋业、经济民生三个方面进行具体的介绍，第六章提出作者的建议。然而，总起的前两章和中间三章重复的点过多，具体介绍的三章也没有详细多少；最后一章提的建议不少在前面都已提及，而她在最后一章也没有把建议说得更具体。因而，豆瓣有一些人评价“车轱辘话”太多。
但总之，作为入门了解的书籍，本书有它的价值；以及由于本书中文版在香港产生了相当的影响力，因而也是了解香港社会的必读书目。
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August 26, 2018Good introduction to the history of the property oligarchs in Hong Kong and how terrible it all is. Unfortunately the author switches between being a free market apologist (most of the time) and a social democrat in their approach for a solution. Frankly it is surprising that she can’t see that commodification is the very root of the problem. But this is Hong Kong after all.
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