Geography- Urban Problems in HK

Main urban problems in HK

•Housing problems

•Urban decay

•Traffic congestion

•Pollution

  1. Housing problems

Inadequate housing supply (which resulted in high housing prices and crowded living conditions)→

High housing prices (highest in the world)→

Crowded living conditions (due to high housing prices→many people can only afford to live in small housing units. Some even live in subsidised flats. The living space per person is very small in Hong Kong.→ Many buildings are tall and close together→ lack of open space→ living conditions are very crowded)

  1. Urban decay

The living conditions in old urban areas like Sham Shui Po, To Kwa Wan and Yau Ma Tei are very poor.

Features of poor living conditions in old urban areas:

  1. Crowded living environment

  2. Mixed land use (residential land use at upper floors, industrial land use on the ground floor→ land use conflict)

  3. Lack of open space and few community facilities

  4. Narrow streets→ traffic congestion

  5. Buildings are in poor condition

As most residents have low income and have no money to improve the quality of buildings and poor living conditions, the living environment is getting worse in old urban areas (urban decay)

  1. Traffic congestion

During peak hours, traffic congestion in Central District and at ‘bottlenecks’ of the main roads like Lion Rock Tunnel and the Cross Harbour Tunnel is common. →

Wastes a lot of time on travelling→ worsens roadside air pollution

  1. Pollution

There are 5 types of pollution in HK.

  1. Air pollution

    Eg. power plants, cars, vessels

  2. Water pollution

    Eg. Domestic sewage

  3. Noise pollution

  4. Eg. Roads and rails near housing blocks, construction sites

  5. Light pollution

    Eg. Signboards near housing blocks in old urban areas

  6. Solid waste pollution

    Eg. Domestic, commercial, construction waste