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Exploring a New Mode of
Sustainable Development:
Taking the Hyperdense City of Hong
Kong as an Example
Leslie H.C. Chen 1 , Shang Weijia 2
1
Division of Landscape Architecture, University of Hong
Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
(e-mail°Glhcchen@hku.hk°Flchen@arch.hku.hk)
2
Division of Landscape Architecture, University
of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Sai Ying Pun,
Hong Kong (e-mail: jean-vega@hotmail.com)
Abstract
This paper proposes a new interpretation of a
sustainable development mode through the study of
the special context in Hong Kong. The authors find
that the hyperdense and compact city development in
Hong Kong coexists with a network of three dimensional
green and blue assets in very close proximity, making
possible an unique and new perspective. The paper
looks into the achievement of city, park and waterfront
development in Hong Kong. The significant role of
landscape architecture in reinterpreting and balancing
the relationship between nature and humans is
explored. The paper concludes with a suggestion
of a new contemporary mode of a sustainable
development that can be of significant reference
for current and future dense city development.
Key words
Hyperdense and compact city, proximity, landscape,
scale, Hong Kong
Introduction_Spatial Organization of Hong Kong
A hyperdense and compact urban form
Hong Kong has one of the highest density of population
in the world, all within a land area of a little more than
1,104 square kilometers. In 2007 the population was
6.9631 million with an average density of 6,410 people
per square kilometers. Kowloon has the highest density,
which is 43,350 people per square kilometers (Census
and Statistics Department 2008).
To deal with the contradiction between scarce land resources
and increasing population, Hong Kong adopted
a compact city development mode in practice, growing
from one dense centre to several dense new towns, decentralizing
population and preserving significant areas.
Hong Kong benefits from this approach. High-rise and
high-density buildings can fulfill the needs of housing;
efficient transport network and intensive mix-used land
can provide more convenience for people; and protect
the natural environment from the threat of urban sprawl.
In Hong Kong, high density is a key factor in planning
considerations where plot ratios (PR) can serve as
indictors of development intensity. According to Hong
Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (2008) the
maximum domestic PR is 10 and the PR for other land
use is even higher than residential. For example, in Hong
Kong Island, the maximum PR for residential area is 15
(Planning Department 2003). The population and development
densities, especially in the old urban district, are
both extremely high compared with other cities. However,
density is not the hottest issue in Hong Kong, people are
becoming more concerned about environmental issues
than building height and density (Zhang 2000).
A three-dimensional green and blue assets
According to the land-use plan, only 22% of land can
serve as current or potential urban development. About
67% of land areas consist of woodland, shrubland and
grassland, and most of which are located in the New Territory
mountain and country areas. The heavily vegetated
mountains are Hong Kong’s green assets. A significant
40% of land area is designated as Country Parks. Most
of them are very close to the dense built-up areas
and have become popular places for hiking and other
recreational activities. The vast sea areas of 1650.76
square kilometers are Hong Kong’s blue assets, of which
the Victoria Harbour occupies 41.36 square kilometers
(Survey and Mapping Office 2008). The coastal line has
changed with reclamation and the skyline continues
to change with the erection of new skyscrapers which
contributes to the fascinating city image of Hong Kong,
evident in most tourist brochures.
The green and blue assets compose a three-dimensional
spatial structure. The wide and narrow water areas
compose the shape and extent of the base plane. The
high and low mountains compose the shape and extent
of the vertical plane. This compact city form is working
nicely with the three-dimensional natural assets where
the metropolitan areas are built close to the mountains
and the sea. City growth has been achieved by cutting
the mountains and reclaiming the sea to expand more
flat lands which lead to the constant transformation of the
natural landscapes into urban landscapes.
From 1840 to the present time, Hong Kong gained about
7000 hectares land by reclamation to meet the urgent
land demand for the rocketing population. With rapid
urban development, citizens raise their expectations
for quality of life. An opinion survey in 1997 found out
that over 95% of Hong Kong people opposed to further
reclamation. Another survey in 2006 showed that 88%