Housing problems in Housing problems in HKHK

The common housing The common housing problem in developed problem in developed citiescities Overcrowding: congested living condition Overcrowding: congested living condition e.g. lack of privacye.g. lack of privacy Substandard housing: poor internal and Substandard housing: poor internal and

public amenitiespublic amenities Poor living conditions Poor living conditions e.g. risk of fire, noise & air pollutione.g. risk of fire, noise & air pollution Socio-economic problems Socio-economic problems e.g. many people live in slums, squatters e.g. many people live in slums, squatters

and cage houses, crimeand cage houses, crime e.g. new migrants, the aged and the poore.g. new migrants, the aged and the poor

Reasons behind the Reasons behind the problemproblem Long history of development in inner Long history of development in inner

citycity Suburbanization and urban city Suburbanization and urban city

decaydecay Economic prosperityEconomic prosperity Migrants from developing countriesMigrants from developing countries Government Policies on Housing & Government Policies on Housing &

Rental controlRental control

Housing problems in Housing problems in HKHK

A historyA history

Case study in HKCase study in HK

The Shek Kip Mei fire (1953)The Shek Kip Mei fire (1953)- a disastrous fire swept through a squatter camp,- a disastrous fire swept through a squatter camp, leaving > 50000 homeless leaving > 50000 homeless

The era of re-housing people (1950s)The era of re-housing people (1950s)- > 2 million in the mid-1950s- > 2 million in the mid-1950s

- self-help concepts? Why or why not?- self-help concepts? Why or why not? Development of public housing and the new towDevelopment of public housing and the new tow

ns, Home Ownership Scheme, setting up of the Hns, Home Ownership Scheme, setting up of the Housing Authority (1970s-1990s)ousing Authority (1970s-1990s)

Subsidized scheme (1990s-2000s) Subsidized scheme (1990s-2000s) e.g. My Home Purchase Scheme e.g. My Home Purchase Scheme

Other casesOther cases

Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaMalaysia Squatter settlement problemsSquatter settlement problems- 1. Relocation housing scheme1. Relocation housing scheme- 2. Upgrading schemes2. Upgrading schemes- 3. Sites and services schemes3. Sites and services schemes

e.g. World Bank (self-help scheme)e.g. World Bank (self-help scheme)• The lesson we learn from this case for The lesson we learn from this case for

Egypt and Kenya?Egypt and Kenya?

SingaporeSingapore

Impressive oneImpressive one E.g. the supporting policiesE.g. the supporting policies

Refer to T.B. Place 60, p.450-451Refer to T.B. Place 60, p.450-451

How about the MDCs?How about the MDCs?

E.g. Birmingham, UKE.g. Birmingham, UK E.g. Los Angeles, USAE.g. Los Angeles, USA The basic problems?The basic problems?

SolutionSolution

1) Urban Renewal/ 1) Urban Renewal/ RedevelopmentRedevelopment

2) New Town Development2) New Town Development

Urban RedevelopmentUrban Redevelopment

In May 2001, the Urban Renewal In May 2001, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA)was establishedAuthority (URA)was established

It is a statutory bodyIt is a statutory body Taking up the tasks of urban Taking up the tasks of urban

redevelopment in HK redevelopment in HK

Urban Renewal AuthorityUrban Renewal Authority

FOUR directionsFOUR directions The 4Rs are Redevelopment, RehabilThe 4Rs are Redevelopment, Rehabil

itation, pReservation and Revitalisatiitation, pReservation and Revitalisation on

Purposes Purposes

To improve the living and built To improve the living and built environment in inner city by environment in inner city by providing more open space and providing more open space and other public amenitiesother public amenities

To reduce population density, To reduce population density, housing density and transport housing density and transport problems in inner cityproblems in inner city

PurposesPurposes

To demolish the slums and To demolish the slums and squatter settlementssquatter settlements

To build new buildings under To build new buildings under supervision and planningsupervision and planning

To have a balanced & well-To have a balanced & well-planned land uses planned land uses

DifficultiesDifficulties

Huge costHuge cost Resumption of landResumption of land

Time & money consumingTime & money consuming

Need to preserve those old Need to preserve those old buildings with historical and buildings with historical and architectural valuesarchitectural values

Complex house/land ownershipComplex house/land ownership

DifficultiesDifficulties

Rehousing problemsRehousing problemsThe poor can not afford to moveThe poor can not afford to moveOld tenants are reluctant to move due Old tenants are reluctant to move due

to strong sense of belongingto strong sense of belonging

SolutionSolution

Legislation arrangements to help Legislation arrangements to help land acquisitionland acquisition

Reasonable compensationReasonable compensation Provision of some public housing Provision of some public housing

unitsunits

New Town DevelopmentNew Town Development

Accommodate the overspill Accommodate the overspill populationpopulation

Pleasant environment and Pleasant environment and amenitiesamenities

Provide jobsProvide jobs Maintain a balanced socio-Maintain a balanced socio-

economic composition of economic composition of populationpopulation

ProblemsProblems

Difficult to persuadeDifficult to persuade Increase urban encroachmentIncrease urban encroachment Land use conflictLand use conflict