Impact of Government-NGO relations on sustainable air quality in Singapore and Hong Kong compared

Tackling air pollution is one of the many challenges that aspiring global cities face in their quest for environmental sustainability. Given the dearth of comparative analysis of Asian cities, this article analyzes the cases of Singapore and Hong Kong. Both former colonies, their executive-led governments have more recently attempted to implement more inclusive and participatory modes of governance. The case studies are used to probe the ability of government and non-government actors to network and make decisions regarding air quality. The Singapore case is depicted by the term “disciplined governance” characterized by a mix of the rowing-steering function of the state. Networks exist but are kept under tight control. The Hong Kong case is represented by the term “disarticulated governance” where the government neither rows nor steers but governs reactively. Networks only form when windows of opportunity open for interaction. That is, no purposive mechanism of engagement is discerned. The article argues that these two modes of governance are limited in themselves and in their ability to tackle air pollution.