Maintaining environmental quality in Chinese rural areas: the case of Sanshui County

This paper deals with the tension between national environmental objectives and rapid industrial growth in a Chinese provincial area. The case study relates to Sanshui County in Guangdong Province, where the authors worked for six months. The paper initially looks at the nature of Chinese national environmental objectives. It considers the legislation and administrative machinery in place to enforce such legislation and how effective this machinery is at the county level. It then argues that in Sanshui County, a rich and densely populated part of the Pearl River delta, there is a critical need for effective planning and strict control on industrial development, lest the overall continuing viability of the region is threatened. It concludes that, at present, there is both a lack of political will and environmental expertise at the county level to ensure protection of the environment.