Abstract
By integrating a Geographic Information System (GIS) into a web portal, we allow a multi-way dialog between Hong Kong's citizens and planning officials. Alternative development plans for Lantau (Hong Kong's largest island) can be analyzed through interactive maps, which allow citizens to compare and comment on specific geo-referenced features. Lantau Island's extensive nature reserves, which offer protected nesting grounds for numerous bird species and other ecological and recreational services, are being weighed against extensive economic development. This experiment in open governance within China will also serve as a laboratory to study qualitative differences in citizen learning, between online dialog and face-to-face group deliberation. Our experiments will explore resolutions to a classical economic paradox from social choice theory, and point to potential improvements in contemporary efforts to bring open and responsive government through information technology.
Highlights
The Lantau Public Consultation web site synthesizes a number of ideas into one participatory geographic information system
We believe that drawing attention to constructive applications of citizen mapping, as in the Lantau participatory geographic information system (PGIS), is the best way to support the long-term evolution of policy
Agents are represented through theirutility function'', which maps possible outcomes onto a linear preference relation. This is theconsistency requirement'' of subjective expected utility (SEU) theory: if you prefer A over B, and B over C, you are required to prefer A over C
Summary
The Lantau Public Consultation web site synthesizes a number of ideas into one participatory geographic information system. Citizens will be encouraged to enter a preference profile, which gives a generic measure of how they value different land use priorities They will be able to rate the specific plans. By combining home-grown innovation with collaboration from the University of California, and giving voice to citizens' own priorities for preserving tradition versus modernization, the Lantau PGIS does exactly this. The ongoing transformation and opening up of Chinese society has advanced in fits and starts, driven by smallscale experimentation that spreads by demonstrating its value At this moment, China's central government is concerned with the spread of interactive mapping technology and has passed legislation to strengthen central oversight (Xinhua News Agency, 2007). We believe that drawing attention to constructive applications of citizen mapping, as in the Lantau PGIS, is the best way to support the long-term evolution of policy
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