Economically, the development of new towns such as Tseung Kwan O have probably benefitted the government, but simultaneously cost it. Despite the fact that they earn a sufficient amount from those that live in the Tseung Kwan O settlements, a lot of money is spent on developing the apartment blocks and the technology industry buildings. By de-centralizing and dispersing the Hong Kong population more widely across the island, the government is not gaining very much. Simply re-locating the already vast population causes the government to result in spending large amounts of money on issues that do not deserve priority. For example, more care should currently be applied to the environmental disgrace Hong Kong is in, rather than the modernization of yet another new town. In terms of transport, the recent completion of the new MTR line has enabled faster connections between Hong Kong Island and the new towns. This however, has encouraged industry, which has then encouraged further development of industrial factories and buildings, which has then led to a higher demand for reclaimed land and space.
The decline of the fishing industry in Sai Kung and the disappearance of the intensive farming in Sha Tin have both been because of the development of the surrounding areas. It the local characteristics such as these that define Hong Kong and preserve its historical culture. The evolution of these towns has lead to the demolishing of ancient culture sites. Nowadays, this concept of preserving culture grows increasingly trivial, and it is the remodeling of a previously undeveloped area that becomes more important. “The target at the commencement of the New Town Development Programme was to provide housing for 1.8 million people in the first three new towns, namely, Tsueng Wan, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun.” (Hong Kong New Towns). This goal was quickly achieved, based on the concept that a new town was to provide a balanced, self-contained community as far as possible in terms of infrastructure. It is to be expected that the government would be keen on providing cheap housing for the victims of the Shek Kip Mei Fire and the residents of squatter settlements. This then benefits and looks after the less fortunate in the Hong Kong community. Eventually the numbers of those in need increased, until new towns were housing more than one quarter of Hong Kong’s population. The construction of yet another generation of new towns soon followed, Tseung Kwan O, Tin Shui Wai and Fan Ling, doubling the stress that the previous generation had put on the environment and culture.
Therefore, in summary, it is evident that the government’s policy of establishing new towns in order to absorb Hong Kong’s inevitable urbanization has achieved its core near term social objectives. This said, the toll such rapid urbanization has taken on the environment is not trivial and needs to be considered in the overall measure of success. It is arguable that environmental degradation of such magnitude has created significant long term negative social impact.
Works Cited
K. Lau (n.d.) Aerial Photographs 1997 – 2000. Retrieved March 6 2009.
K. Lau (n.d.) Hong Kong Government SAR Factsheets – Hong Kong New Town Development. Retrieved March 6 2009.
K. Lau (n.d.) Hong Kong New Towns. Retrieved March 6 2009.
K. Lau (n.d.) Mid Year Population of Hong Kong 1841 to 2000. Retrieved March 4 2009.
K. Lau (n.d.) Topographical Map Number 11. Retrieved March 4 2009.
K. Lau (n.d.) Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department, Hong Kong SAR Government. Retrieved March 6 2009.
Hong Kong New Towns Development
Survey & Mapping Office, A
Survey & Mapping Office, B
Location Map of New MTR Line
Hong Kong New Town Development
