Summary
In his speech, Mr K K Ling, Director of Planning Department, gave us an overview of city planning in Hong Kong, a densely populated and mountainous city. To cope with the population growth and economic transformation, the government has to consider different approaches for land creation, in order to maintain the sustainable development of the city.
Besides creating land by reclamation and hill levelling, the government also improves land utilization by urban renewal and industrial land optimization. Integrating land use, transport and the environment is the key approach for city planning in Hong Kong.
Mr Ling also explained that Hong Kong has adopted a compact development mode, with railway as the backbone of the public transport network, and high-density and mixed-use development above and around railway stations to achieve high population mobility and accessibility. After more than a hundred years, only 24% of Hong Kong’s land has been urbanized, with another 5.7% for transportation and utilities, to serve a population of 7 million persons. This is highly efficient land utilization. Although this planning model brings convenience for people, it has to meet certain challenges such as urban heat island effects, difficulties in the preservation of historical features and conservation of natural environment, and harbour protection and enhancement.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Ling emphasized that during the planning process, we must consider the compatibility between the existing and the new; while striving to meet the growing needs and expectation of society, we must retain the characteristics of Hong Kong; and we must use our land resources wisely in order to achieve the overarching principle of sustainable development.
(With Mr Ling’s kind permission, his PPT of his speech can be viewed here.)
PresentationSDA Dinner Talk
Date︰
23 May 2013
Speaker︰
Mr K.K. Ling, J.P.
Director of Planning
Topic of speech︰
Our Planning Challenge: The Quest for Land – The Strive for Quality
Venue︰
New Shanghai Restaurant, HKCEC
