74

Is Hong Kong an ideal city?

(a) (b)

(d)

(c)

(e)

(f)

Dr Sam is conducting a research to investigate Hong Kong’s urbanproblems. Look at the photographs he has taken (Figure 10.1).

Figure 10.1

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Chapter 10

What are the major urbanproblems in Hong Kong?What are the major urbanproblems in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China.It is also an important international trade and financialcentre. People enjoy a high living standard here.However, there are many problems in our city.

Figure 10.2

11111 Which of Hong Kong’s urban problems does each photograph show? What are their maincauses? Can you help Dr Sam to complete his report?

22222 Where has Dr Sam taken each photograph? Name a place in Hong Kong where you canfind an example of each urban problem.

Photograph Urban problems Main causes

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Figure 10.3 Old and worn-outbuildings in old districts

• Urban decay

The living environment in the inner city districts such asYau Ma Tei and Sham Shui Po is poor. There are fewopen spaces and the buildings are old and worn-out(Figure 10.3). This is called urban decay. The collapse ofparts of these buildings often causes injuries or evencasualties.

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Part three

• Housing problems

Hong Kong has a very large population. As aresult, living conditions in many residential areasare overcrowded. Low-income people have tolive in squatter areas, temporary housing areasand old public housing estates (Figure 10.4).

• Traffic problems

Traffic congestion is common on the mainroads, especially at rush hours (Figure 10.5).It is a waste of time and manpower.

(b) A temporary housing area (c) An old publichousing estate

Figure 10.4 Poor living conditions in squatter areas, temporary housing areas and old public housing estates

Figure 10.5 Traffic congestion is common on themain roads during rush hours

Too many cars!

There were 578 122 licensed motor vehicles inJune 2001 in Hong Kong. Private carsamount to over 60% of all vehicles. Theyoccupy much of the road space, but carry veryfew passengers. Too many private cars on theroads cause traffic congestion.

squatter area �� temporary housing area �� !"

Can you think of some places in HongKong that always have traffic congestion?

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Chapter 10

• Pollution problems

Hong Kong’s large population, intensive business activitiesand heavy traffic lead to serious pollution problems. Everyday a great deal of garbage is produced. Smoke and noiseare common especially in the inner city districts (Figures10.6 and 10.7). Sewage also pollutes Victoria Harbour andmany beaches.

Figure 10.6 Air pollutants cause poor visibility

Air Pollution Index

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) introduced the Air Pollution Index (A.P.I.)in 1995 to describe air pollution level. An A.P.I. above 100 means the air quality is poor.

You can obtain the hourly A.P.I. from the website of the Environmental Protection Department(EPD): http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/

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Figure 10.7 People living near the flyovers are disturbedby noise pollution

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Part three

What causes these problems?

Too many people, too little landActivity

What causes these problems?

Figure 10.8 Population growth in Hong Kong, 1990-2000

• Rapid population growth

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated placesin the world. In 2000, there were about 6 253 people perkm2.

The population is growing rapidly (Figure 10.8) becausemore and more people are coming from the mainland ofChina . Also, the large population in Hong Kong is notevenly distributed. Many people crowd into inner citydistricts. Kwun Tong, for example, had a population densityof 53 460 people per km2 in 2000. Overcrowding is the maincause of many urban problems.

What is populationdensity?

Population density

=Number of people

Total area of a place (km2)

Source: Hong Kong Annual Digest ofStatistics (several editions)

5 600

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Year

Population (’000)

6 000

6 400

6 800

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Look at Figure 10.8.

11111 Describe the trend of populationchange in Hong Kong from 1990 to2000.

22222 Why was there such a trend?

33333 What urban problems might thistrend have caused?

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Chapter 10

Figure 10.10 Traffic congestionoccurs on roads leading to the

container terminals

• High standard of living

Higher car ownershipActivity

Figure 10.9 The number of motorvehicles in Hong Kong, 1990-2000

Hong Kong people became richer as theeconomy improved. High purchasing powerincreases the amount of solid waste andsewage. More people can buy their own carsnow (Figure 10.9). The growth in the numberof cars causes traffic congestion and airpollution.

• Intensive economic activities

Hong Kong is an international city and alarge port. Trade and business activities arebusy. This increases commercial waste andsewage. Busy economic activities alsoincrease the demand for traffic (Figure10.10) and cause traffic congestion.

Look at Figure 10.9.

11111 Describe the trend of the number ofmotor vehicles in Hong Kong from 1990to 2000.

22222 Do you know why there was such atrend?

33333 What urban problems might this trendhave caused?

Source: Hong Kong Annual Digestof Statistics (several editions)

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Part three

• Poor urban planning in the past

Urban planning was poor in the past. Mixed landuse is common in the inner city districts. Mostbuildings are old, without proper maintenance.Problems of pollution and traffic congestion areserious in the areas. Some would use the term ‘urbandecay’ to describe the poor conditions in these areas.

Figure 10.11 Poor land use planning in innercity districts causes traffic congestion

Key wordsurban decay (�� ! ) population density (�� ! )

*Air Pollution Index (�� !"# ) urban planning (�� ! )

air pollution (�� ! )

Key points1 Urban problems in Hong Kong include:

(a) Urban decay The buildings are old and worn-out. There is urban decay in theinner city districts.

(b) Housing problems The living conditions are overcrowded. Poor people have tolive in squatter areas, temporary housing areas, or old public housing estates.

(c) Traffic problems There is high car ownership. Traffic congestion is commonespecially at the rush hours.

(d) Pollution problems These include air pollution, solid waste pollution, noise pollutionand water pollution.

2 Causes of urban problems in Hong Kong include:(a) Rapid population growth Large population makes a lot of domestic sewage and

garbage. Overcrowding worsens the living environment.(b) High standard of living This increases the amount of waste, the numbers of cars,

and the demand for traffic.(c) Intensive economic activities These increase the amount of waste and sewage,

and the demand for traffic.(d) Poor urban planning in the past This resulted in mixed land use, and sped up

urban decay.

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