Second-order rate constants $(k_{OH^-})$ have been measured spectrophotometrically for alkaline hydrolysis of Y-substituted phenyl phenyl carbonates (2a-j) and compared with the $k_{OH^-}$ values reported previously for the corresponding reactions of Y-substituted phenyl benzoates (1a-j). Carbonates 2a-j are 8~16 times more reactive than benzoates 1a-j. The Hammett plots correlated with $sigma^-$ and $sigma^o$ constants exhibit many scattered points, while the Yukawa-Tsuno plot results in excellent linear correlation with $ ho$ = 1.21 and $gamma$ = 0.33. Thus, the reaction has been concluded to proceed through a concerted mechanism in which expulsion of the leaving group is advanced only a little. However, one cannot exclude a possibility that the current reaction proceeds through a forced concerted mechanism with a highly unstable intermediate.