ABSTRACT
Local factors and conditions have been dominant in the early evolution of CHM in our case study cities. These factors will be identified and discussed in relation to the distinctive administrative characteristics of each of these three cities. Key events and significant changes in legislation that distinguish them as uniquely comprising three different systems of administration within one geographic region will then be delineated. That region is now recognized internationally as ‘the Pearl River Delta’ (PRD) as part of a deliberate policy to encourage more cooperation and integration. However, the three cities have developed very different administrative systems as a result of very different historical trajectories, which can make regional integration a challenging proposition. This chapter will investigate activities associated with the first two phases of the notional CHM framework: establishing inventories and promulgating initial legislation.
