XXXXVIII. Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China — Mujie Sui
Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, is a global financial hub known for its iconic skyline and vibrant urban life. The city’s history as a former British colony, coupled with its unique status, contributes to its distinctive character as a major international trading port and economic powerhouse in Asia.
Central and Western District
Hong Kong Island
Population:
Urban:7,498,100 people
Area:
Urban: 1104 sqkm
Population Density:
Urban: 6,590 people/sqkm
Politics:
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, with executive, legislative, and judicial powers devolved from the national government. The Sino-British Joint Declaration provided for economic and administrative continuity through the transfer of sovereignty, resulting in an executive-led governing system largely inherited from the territory’s history as a British colony. Under these terms and the “one country, two systems” principle, the Basic Law of Hong Kong is the regional constitution.
Left: Public Housing; Right: Street
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Hong Kong’s public housing policies, including Public Rental Housing (PRH), aim to provide affordable housing for low-income residents. Administered by the Housing Authority (HA) and Housing Society (HS), PRH offers subsidized rental units with eligibility based on income, assets, and household size. The allocation process prioritizes those with urgent housing needs, and rent is set at affordable levels. Public housing estates include community facilities, but challenges persist due to high demand, leading to ongoing efforts to increase housing supply.
Lined with diverse shops, bustling markets, and an array of culinary delights, the streets offer a sensory journey through this global metropolis. From the iconic Nathan Road to the narrow lanes of Mong Kok, Hong Kong’s streets showcase a blend of traditional and modern elements, embodying the city’s unique fusion of Eastern and Western influences.
Hong Kong, China. High Density Buildig Typologies
Hong Kong, China . Urban Void Spaces
Area: sqkm
Population: Thousand
Tong Mi, Kowloon :
Area: 233,976 sqm
Population: 26,208 people
Population Density: 104,832 people/km2
Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Sham Shui Po:
Area: 219,821 sqm
Population: 38,725 people
Population Density: 63,483 people/km2
Soho, Central and Western:
Area: 204098 sqm
Population: 11,323 people
Population Density: 56,615 people/km2
Vertical Harmony, Kwun Tong
Since implementing China's reform and opening-up policy in the early 1980s, the shortage of labor in Hong Kong, coupled with stringent labor laws, has led to the relocation of many manufacturers to mainland China. For over a decade, Kwun Tong has seen many vacant industrial sites as industry shrunk and the Hong Kong government has stopped planning for new industrial sites.
Tsun Yip Street Playground originally opened in 1973; over the decades, the playground's facilities became inadequate to meet the needs of the area's workforce as Kwun Tong transitioned to commercial and trade development.
Concrete surfaces exacerbated the urban heat island effect and made it an unwelcome place for nearby workers. In August 2012, the Government transformed it into a park that provides multi-purpose space for performances and exhibitions and protects the environment by using recyclable materials and installing solar and wind energy facilities.
However, District personalities and Legislative Council Members criticized turning a dynamic venue into a fully static park will be inconvenient for the users in the vicinity.
This project is a transformative new construction and remodeling initiative for the Tsun Yip Street community. Originally, the residential spaces were insufficient to accommodate the growing population. In response, the airspace above the bus depot is used to develop a mixed-use building that integrates commercial, recreational, and residential functionalities. A multi-level park will enhance the vibrancy of the neighborhood.
The park's circulation was re-engineered to allow greater accessibility and provide a varied experience for the residents. A connecting corridor was designed to link all the neighborhood buildings, enabling residents to move between buildings through elevated pathways, thereby reducing ground-level congestion. People can still see each other from different heights.
The basketball courts and other sports facilities were relocated from the original park to a new building, effectively 'verticalizing' these recreational spaces. The new building is designed so that each floor is dedicated to different sports activities, allowing residents to choose their preferred sports area based on their needs. What's more, residents have access to separate elevators to reach their homes, ensuring a smooth circulation system without any intersections.
Sources:
1. https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/news/18-%E5%8D%80%E4%BD%8F%E9%82%8A%E5%8D%80-%E7%81%A3%E4%BB%94-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E7%B8%AE%E5%BD%B1-070036906.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANTpiV4Ozj1wP7yEhlRij-eG4qNY3urcXCDbtLo1W840T2rQBIh1RFETsPlfKaYNzthjhcKvnwK-aCcLu0u7CrJ9bbqAHXwTBV-w6AC9DntWEW_WLOGUFmjHsz_wH7ix7uOT12lE80w4d3tyFIrB3rFPm6nq9Umnk_L25JgRHdwU
https://www.okay.com/zh-hk/property-news/where-to-live-in-hong-kong---hong-kong-island-kowloon-new-territories-or-outlying-/373
2. https://crossing.cw.com.tw/article/14272
3. https://www.hk01.com/%E8%97%9D%E6%96%87/341754/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E6%95%85%E4%BA%8B-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E8%A1%97%E9%81%93%E5%90%8D%E5%AD%97%E6%9C%89%E5%85%B8%E6%95%85-%E8%A8%98%E9%8C%84%E9%80%99%E5%9C%9F%E5%9C%B0%E7%9A%84%E6%AF%8F%E4%B8%80%E6%AD%A5%E6%AD%B7%E5%8F%B2
4. https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/press_release_detail.html?id=5265
5. https://www.google.com/maps
6. Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics(2024.1)
7. https://portal.csdi.gov.hk/geoportal/#metadataInfoPanel
8.https://data.gov.hk/sc-data/dataset/hk-censtatd-census_geo-2021-population-census-by-lsg/resource/42e15e5a-e41d-4a45-8a89-4580aac445e7
9.https://data.gov.hk/sc-data/dataset/hk-housing-emms-emms-housing-stock/resource/960b6cd3-0e64-4e22-a3a7-f4fb58649d71
— AQQ