Letters | Hong Kong can persuade people to stay on by creating a more liveable city

Readers discuss how Hong Kong can improve urban planning, pay tribute to a scientist who played a key role in the development of the city’s fishing industry, and stress the need to preserve buildings that tell the story of the city’s past

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People enjoy a sunny day at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade on June 19. Photo: May Tse

Published: 7:05am, 18 Sep 2021

As residents of an international city that houses 7.4 million people, we all have different visions of life and what makes a liveable city. Whether to stay or not has become a common topic of conversation.

To dig deeper into the reasons people leave, apart from the 2019 social unrest and uncertainties surrounding the national security law, many point to the lack of personal space and low quality of life. It is not surprising that monetary reward does not seem to a key factor in deciding to stay as more people are concerned about their own wellness, the prospects for local education and public space.

While we value open spaces and work-life balance, Hong Kong does not seem to be the most liveable city. Urban planning should consider what makes a space people-friendly and pet-friendly, and we should design open areas that make people feel like they are part of the city. For example, in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan recently shared the Piccadilly Art Takeover project that invites artists to transform the street.

How do we create a space in which Hongkongers feel included? To me, it is simple – ask them what they want in their own districts. An expensive water fountain in Kwun Tong has been criticised, with people saying it is not user-friendly. Human-centred urban design and planning requires us to understand what users want and to co-create ideas for these projects.

Introducing a well-being budget may also help people feel taken care of. New Zealand introduced such a budget in 2019, committing to put people’s wellness and the environment at the heart of its policies. The government followed through with policy planning. It is time to use a different measurement to assess the success of a government and policy effectiveness.

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Hong Kong faces expat exodus as appeal of international city wanes

While we have the freedom to leave the city, there are some people who have no choice. I hope the government can create policies that people staying in Hong Kong can feel proud of.