Technology will change land use in Hong Kong – and it’s about time the government caught on

Edward Tse says Hong Kong’s land use planning should respond to changes, not least those across the Shenzhen River

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Edward Tse

Published: 5:45pm, 14 Mar 2017Updated: 9:29am, 16 Mar 2017

Cities in general will become “smarter” and clusters of megacities or even mega corridors will emerge. Illustration: Ingo Fast

Hong Kong’s government has a reputation for being inward-looking when it comes to formulating policies. Prior to the 1997 handover, such an approach was acceptable and made sense, as Hong Kong was separated from mainland China.

However, interactions between the city and mainland have significantly increased since the handover. The government must now take a more holistic approach to understanding the overall developments on the mainland and their implications for the future of Hong Kong.

This coincides with the rapid development of the rest of the world, driven to a large extent by technology. We are witnessing significant global shifts, which are affecting Hong Kong.

A case in point is Hong Kong’s land use planning. Clearly, land use must be optimised. The “Hong Kong 2030 Plus” strategic planning blueprint is a good attempt at considering the development of the neighbouring Pearl River Delta. For instance, the report tries to deal with the impact that Shenzhen’s research institutions and universities will have on Hong Kong’s land use planning. However, on the whole, it has failed to cover the broader impact of global and regional shifts.

Hong Kong 2030 Plus: is it really planning or just guesswork?

By 2030, Western economies are likely to have less influence globally than China (and India). The combination of shifting demographics, better health care, increased lifespans, globalisation and rapid urbanisation are likely to dramatically shift the global economy.