Youth People’s Views on “Hong Kong 2030+”

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 18

Hong Kong is an international metropolitan city in Asia. Urban planning and strategic development play a critical role in continuing to make the city more liveable. Good future development of the city depends on whether it has appropriate and forward-looking urban planning.

“Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030” (hereinafter referred to as “Hong Kong 2030+”), a vision-driven, pragmatic and action-oriented strategic plan, was released by the Development Bureau and Planning Development in October 2016. It updates the territorial development strategy (i.e., “Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy”) promulgated in 2007 and serves to guide planning, land and infrastructure development and the shaping of the built environment in Hong Kong beyond 2030. The public engagement exercise for “Hong Kong 2030+” was launched to collect views from the public and will last for six months[1].

It has received public attention since the launch of the public engagement exercise. Stakeholders have different opinions on how to increase land supply, and how to strike a balance between urban development and environmental conservation. Urban development and the use of land resources are closely related to social affairs. The younger generation is the future master of society. In this sense, the future development of Hong Kong will have a direct and far reaching impact on them. They are also the future users of the plan. Thus, it is important to involve the younger generation in the planning process.

In view of the above, the study tried to explore the opinions of the younger generation on how to undertake urban planning and how to use land resources. Through this approach, the study aimed to help the government understand the viewpoints and expectations of the younger generation in order to take into account the needs of youth and the long-term interests of society in the planning process.

Since planning involves a wide range of activities, the study will look at the long-standing problem of land shortage from a youth perspective. Considering the youth vision for increasing land supply and overall development in Hong Kong, the study will try to make relevant recommendations from a forward-looking perspective.

Discussion

1. Urban planning involves the interests of different stakeholders; it is difficult to avoid conflict. Consensus can be sought through effective communication and full consultation.
2. Young people’s concerns about the future development of Hong Kong. They said their satisfaction towards current urban planning is at an average level. They pay attention to the aspects that are concerned with meeting the needs of daily lives and increasing land supply in urban planning.
3. Young people thought Hong Kong’s liveability is above average. They said the greatest shortcoming of Hong Kong as a liveable city is its crowded living environment and expected there to be an improvement in the living environment and quality of life.
4. Young people hold a positive attitude towards increasing land supply to meet housing needs and they are most receptive to developing brownfield sites. The government can consider formulating a comprehensive brownfield management policy.
5. Coexistence of conservation and development is an important consideration in urban planning. The government can consider formulating comprehensive conservation strategies.

Recommendation

1. Develop liveability indicators with elements of social capital
2. Formulate a brownfield development policy as a priority
3. Use the concept of the life circle to guide urban planning
4. Provide developers with incentives to include artistic elements in building design

[1] “Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030” Public engagement Booklet.