The combined land application features the high-density urbanization of Hong Kong, the diversity of population and housing, an efficient, affordable and accessible mass transit system, all typical of a compact city-state (Ganesan and Lau, 2000). However, the housing problem and traffic congestion have raised new urban challenges.

Housing problem

Housing has been a problem for cities as people move from rural areas to cities in looking for better living and job opportunities (Ching, 2004). Hong Kong’s housing issues is an example of how implements in the region’s economic growth do not match with living condition (Ho, 1998). According to Demographic data, the average price of a Hong Kong apartment was 19.4 times the average yearly salaries in 2017, increased from 18.1 times in 2016 (Hong Kong’s housing agony, 2018). On the other hand, there are many residential regions are overcrowded as Hong Kong has a vast population. Low- income earner force to live in the cottage area, interim housing areas and aged and decaying public housing estates (Is Hong Kong an ideal city?, n.d.). According to government data, it shows that 209700 people live in the divided housing units, which also called ‘coffin home’ (Hong Kong’s housing agony, 2018) . These ‘home’ have an average per capita living space of only 57 square feet, which is very narrow it can only accommodate a bed and a container of personal belongings (Hong Kong’s housing agony, 2018). It was formed by dividing an apartment into a smaller part, and residents have to share the kitchen in the bathroom (Hong Kong’s housing agony, 2018). This new type of cramped apartment could be a glance of Hong Kong future life since the housing shortage and price rapidly increasing.

 

Traffic problem

Transportation is significant because it allows people to participate in human activities. As the population increases, so makes the demand for transportation (Farahani, Miandoabchi, Szeto and Rashidi, 2018).  Hong Kong’s above and underground” transport is facing significant challenges. The main problems are: increased traffic congestion, reduced convenience, and deteriorated roadside air pollution. These issues must be addressed to maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness (Vuylsteke, 2013). Increasing traffic congestion means commuters will face more delays and more damage to the environment (Vuylsteke, 2013). Delays and changes in road traffic naturally prompt commuters to use the subways as it is more environmentally friendly. However,  overcrowding railway and the increasing the middle-class wealth earner are prompting people to return to road transport in the other way, this time in the form of own private cars (Vuylsteke, 2013). Thus, traffic congestion results from urbanization, and also there is not any sign of relieving in a period of time.

 

 

 

Reference List

Ching, S. 2004, Housing Problems Accompanying Urbanization (Hong Kong’s Lesson), Housing Authority. viewed 12 August 2018, <https://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/hdw/ihc/pdf/cswcs.pdf>.

Farahani, R., Miandoabchi, E., Szeto, W. and Rashidi, H. 2018, A review of urban transportation network design problems, core. viewed 15 August 2018, <https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/38030803.pdf>.

Ganesan, S. and Lau, S. 2000, Urban Challenges in Hong Kong: Future Directions for Design, Urban Design International, vol 5, no 1, pp.3-12, viewed 8 August 2018, <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000001>.

Ho, W. 1998, HOUSING CONDITIONS AND AFFORDABILITY IN HONG KONG, Review of Urban & Regional Development Studies, vol 10, no 2, pp.157-174, viewed 11 August 2018, <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-940X.1998.tb00093.x>.

Hong Kong’s housing agony 2018, Chinaworker.info. viewed 15 August 2018, <http://chinaworker.info/en/2018/02/27/17175/>.

Is Hong Kong an ideal city? n.d., Businessdocbox. viewed 15 August 2018, <http://businessdocbox.com/70015496-Green_Solutions/Is-hong-kong-an-ideal-city.html>.

Vuylsteke, R. 2013, Don’t let road congestion choke Hong Kong’s development, South China Morning Post. viewed 15 August 2018, <https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1128733/dont-let-road-congestion-choke-hong-kongs-development>.