Figure 2.12 1990: Distribution of Average Wage Levels
Luanzian
Bekam Yaozu
Shixing
City
Nanxiong
Pingy
Luang
Yaozu Zizhixckebur
Yangshan
Heping
Wengyuan
Dabu
Lianping
Longchun
Xingning
Yingde
Xinfeng
Husiji
Heyuan City
Fengshun
Wuhua
Raoping
Qingyuan City,
Guangning
Longmen
Chaozhou City
Jjeyant
Kipn
Jiexi
Fengkai
Yunan
Sitzuź
Deging
Сасуво
Luoding
Heshan
Yinxing
Jongmen
Xinhui
Xinyi
Zhongshand
hai
Enping
Yangchun
Macau
Gaozhou
Huazhou
City
Lianjiang
Dianbai
Wuchuan
Haikang
Xuwen
iLy
Yangjiang City
Honggunan ap
Boluo
Lube
Puning
Huilai
Heifeng
Lufeng
Chaqyang
>=4000
Rmb/month
3500 to 4000 Rmb/month
3000 to 3500 Rmb/month
2500 to 3000 Rmb/month
2000 to 2500 Rmb/month
< 2000
Rmb/month
electricity supplies, water supplies and telecommunications) has been much criticised, the province has been the first in China to pay serious attention to these problems. Other regions, including the Yangste Basin, around Shanghai, have been much slower to invest in new infrastructure.
2.37 The lack of good highways has been mitigated by the natural highways of the delta waterways and the lack of ports by the proximity of Hong Kong. These are still strengths.
2.38 There is, however, some evidence to suggest that the worst of the problems may be over. The province's encouragement of private investments in many infrastructural development projects is likely to ensure that future demands for new facilities are met in a reasonably timely manner. Major expansions of the road, rail, port, airport, electricity generating and telecommunications facilities are underway. It is of some note that it is in the water supply sector, where there has been no real private sector involvement, that some of the largest problems still remain. The electricity supply system, although expanding, is also highly fragmented - many of the smaller producers of power are very inefficient.
2.39 Low levels of silt in the rivers mean that these are good sources of drinking and irrigation water.
Willingness to Accept Low Environmental Standards
2.40 In their drive to attract new industry (and minimise new enterprise's costs), the provincial authorities have, so far, been prepared to accept poor environmental conditions and high levels of pollution. Although the long term wisdom of this policy is doubted (particularly in those areas where the damage is not easily reversible), it is clearly contributing to the region's rapid economic development. Polluting industries which wish to minimise their costs are attracted to the province. Interestingly, there is no real evidence that industries are leaving Hong Kong simply in order to avoid its much stricter environmental regime - Hong Kong industry's prime objective appears simply to be to reduce its costs. The main advantages of Guangdong therefore lie in its low labour and land costs - cost savings that result from having to provide environmental safeguards are usually of secondary importance (source: "Support to Industry on Environmental Matters", Department of Industry, Hong Kong). This is a finding that the
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