Building a Sustainable City

Hey everyone! Welcome to your study notes for "Building a Sustainable City". Ever wondered why Hong Kong is so crowded, why the MTR is always packed, or what we can do about all the pollution? This chapter answers those questions! We'll explore how cities like ours grow, the problems that come with it, and the exciting idea of making our city a better place for everyone, now and in the future. It might seem like a huge topic, but we'll break it down step-by-step. Let's get started!


1. Why Do Cities Grow? The Basics of Urbanisation

So, what's "Urbanisation"?

It's a big word with a simple meaning. Urbanisation is the process where an increasing percentage of a country's population lives in towns and cities. It's a global trend!

Don't mix it up with Urban Growth, which is just the increase in the number of people living in a city.

Think of it like this: If 100 new people move to Hong Kong, that's urban growth. If the percentage of people in all of China living in cities goes from 60% to 61%, that's urbanisation.

The Main Engines of Urban Growth

Why do cities keep getting bigger? There are a few key reasons.

1. Natural Increase of Urban Population

This is the simplest one! It's when the number of births in a city is higher than the number of deaths.

$$ \text{Natural Increase} = \text{Birth Rate} - \text{Death Rate} $$

In many cities, better healthcare means people live longer (lower death rate), leading to population growth.

2. Rural-Urban Migration

This is a huge driver of city growth. It's when people move from the countryside (rural areas) to the city (urban areas). They do this for two main reasons:

  • Push Factors (Things pushing them away from the countryside): Lack of jobs, lower wages, poor services (schools, hospitals), natural disasters.
  • Pull Factors (Things pulling them towards the city): More job opportunities, higher salaries, better education, excitement and entertainment.
3. Reclassification of Areas

Sometimes, a city grows by just... expanding its borders! An area that was once considered 'rural' can be officially redesignated as 'urban' as it develops. For example, when new towns are built in the New Territories, those areas become part of urban Hong Kong.

4. Economic and Transport Development

When a city's economy booms, it creates jobs, which pulls people in. Likewise, when transport improves (like building a new MTR line), it makes it easier for people to live and work in the city, encouraging growth.

Key Takeaway

Cities grow because of more births than deaths (natural increase), people moving in from the countryside (migration), and the city itself expanding its boundaries and its economy.


2. The Changing Face of a City

Cities are not static; they are constantly changing. Think about how much Hong Kong has changed in the last 50 years! These changes happen in predictable patterns and processes.

A City's Life Cycle: The Cycle of Urbanisation

Just like a living thing, a city can go through a life cycle. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; we'll use a simple mnemonic to remember it: Uncle Sam Cooks Rice (USCR).

  1. Urbanisation: The classic growth phase. People rush into the city centre for jobs. The city core becomes very dense. (e.g., Industrial Revolution in the UK, or early development in Hong Kong).
  2. Suburbanisation: The city centre gets too crowded and expensive. People who can afford it (and with better transport like cars and trains) move to the outskirts (the suburbs) for more space and a better environment. (e.g., People moving from Hong Kong Island to new towns like Sha Tin).
  3. Counter-urbanisation: Now, even the suburbs feel too busy! People start moving even further out, to small towns or the countryside, completely away from the main city, looking for a peaceful life.
  4. Re-urbanisation: The old city centre, which became run-down, is now being renewed and improved by the government or private companies. New apartments, cool shops, and offices attract people back into the city core. (e.g., Redevelopment projects in Wan Chai making it a popular place to live again).

Processes Shaping Our Cities

As a city goes through its cycle, several key things are happening on the ground.

  • Urban Decay: This is when parts of a city (usually the old inner city) become run-down. Buildings are old and poorly maintained, there might be high unemployment, and public spaces are neglected.
  • Urban Sprawl and Encroachment: This is the uncontrolled outward growth of a city. It 'sprawls' into the surrounding countryside, eating up farmland and natural habitats. This is urban encroachment.
  • Urban Redevelopment and Renewal: This is the effort to fix urban decay.
    • Urban Redevelopment often involves large-scale demolition of old buildings and constructing new ones. It's a complete teardown and rebuild.
    • Urban Renewal is a broader term. It can include redevelopment, but also renovating and improving existing old buildings and the local environment without completely demolishing everything.
Quick Review: The Competitive City

Inside a city, there's constant competition for land. Shops want to be on the busy main street, offices want to be in the central business district, and people want homes near transport. The land usually goes to whoever can pay the most. Over time, this leads to a process of succession, where one type of land use is replaced by another (e.g., an old factory is torn down and replaced by an expensive apartment building).

Key Takeaway

Cities evolve through a cycle (USCR). This involves processes like old areas becoming run-down (decay), the city spreading outwards (sprawl), and efforts to fix old areas (redevelopment and renewal).


3. The Problems of a Growing City (Focus on Hong Kong)

Rapid growth is exciting, but it also causes major headaches! Hong Kong is a perfect case study for these "growing pains".

1. Housing Problems

  • Insufficiency and High Prices: There simply isn't enough affordable housing for everyone. This drives prices and rents sky-high, making Hong Kong one of the most expensive cities in the world.
  • Substandard Conditions: Many people are forced to live in tiny, unsafe, and unhygienic conditions like subdivided flats, cage homes, and rooftop huts.

2. Transport Problems

  • Traffic Congestion: Too many cars on the road, especially during peak hours. Just think of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel at 6 PM! This wastes time, money (fuel), and causes stress.
  • Overcrowded Public Transport: The MTR and buses are efficient, but they can be incredibly packed, making daily commutes uncomfortable.

3. Environmental Problems

  • Waste and Pollution: More people means more rubbish. Our landfills are filling up fast! Air pollution from vehicles and nearby factories is a major health concern. Water pollution also harms our marine life.
  • Environmental Health: The dense packing of buildings can create a "wall effect", trapping pollutants and heat, making the city hotter and stuffier. This is part of the urban heat island effect.
Did you know?

Hong Kong has one of the highest population densities in the world. In districts like Mong Kok, there can be over 130,000 people per square kilometre! That's like fitting the entire population of a small town into a single city block.

Key Takeaway

Rapid city growth leads to serious problems with housing (too expensive, too small), transport (traffic jams, crowding), and the environment (pollution, waste).


4. Finding Solutions and Facing Conflicts

So, cities have problems. What can we do about them? And why is it so hard to get everyone to agree on a solution?

Fixing the City: What's Being Done?

  1. Provision of Public Housing and Building of New Towns: To tackle housing shortages, the Hong Kong government has a massive public housing programme. It also developed new towns in the New Territories (like Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun) to move people out of the crowded city core.
  2. Urban Planning: This is about carefully designing how land in a city is used. Planners decide where to put homes, offices, parks, and transport links to make the city more efficient and liveable. This helps to prevent urban sprawl and ensures there are enough community facilities.
  3. Environmental Conservation Measures: These are policies to protect the environment, such as creating country parks, promoting recycling, and introducing schemes like the plastic bag levy or the upcoming waste charging scheme.

Not So Easy: The Inevitable Conflicts

Trying to solve one problem can often create another, leading to conflicts between different groups of people.

Imagine a family arguing: Dad wants to buy a new car (convenience), but Mum wants to save the money for a holiday (leisure), while the kids want a new game console (entertainment). Everyone has a different priority!

It's the same in a city:

  • Development vs. Environment: To build more flats, we might need to develop on country park land. This creates a conflict between property developers who want to build, people who need homes, and environmentalists who want to protect nature.
  • Economic Gain vs. Social/Cultural Heritage: When an old area is redeveloped, the city might gain new, expensive buildings (economic gain). But the original residents, often elderly and low-income, are forced to move, and old shops and community ties are lost (social and cultural loss).
Key Takeaway

We try to solve urban problems with strategies like building public housing, urban planning, and conservation. However, these solutions often create conflicts between economic development, environmental protection, and social needs.


5. The Big Goal: Sustainable Development

With all these conflicts, how can we move forward? The answer lies in a very important concept: Sustainable Development.

What is "Sustainable Development"?

The most famous definition is: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

In simple terms: Let's live well today, but not in a way that ruins the planet for our children and grandchildren.

To achieve this, we need to balance three things (the "three pillars"):

  • Economic Sustainability: A healthy economy, jobs, and prosperity.
  • Social Sustainability: A fair and just society with good housing, healthcare, and community life.
  • Environmental Sustainability: Protecting our natural resources, reducing pollution, and tackling climate change.

A Sustainable City is a city that successfully balances these three pillars. It is a city that is green, fair, and prosperous.

How Can We Make a City Sustainable?

  • Better and Careful Planning: Designing compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods where people can walk or cycle to shops and work. Integrating green spaces like parks and green roofs.
  • Regenerating and Re-imaging the city: Instead of just demolishing old areas, we can creatively reuse them. (e.g., Turning the old Central Police Station into the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts). This is "re-imaging" – giving a place a new, positive identity.
  • Investing in green technology: Promoting renewable energy, building energy-efficient buildings, and creating an excellent public transport system to reduce reliance on cars.

The Big Question: Can we afford NOT to be sustainable?

Building a sustainable city costs money and requires difficult choices (the "price"). But what is the cost of doing nothing?

If we don't act, we face:

  • Aggravation of urban problems (worse traffic, more pollution, severe housing crisis).
  • Negative impacts on human health (from pollution and stress).
  • Damage to the environment that may be irreversible.

So, environmental conservation and urban development are NOT mutually exclusive! They must go hand-in-hand. The challenge is finding the right balance.

Key Takeaway

Sustainable development is the key to our future. It means balancing economic, social, and environmental needs. A sustainable city is one that is prosperous, fair, and green, ensuring a good quality of life for everyone, both now and in the future.