Land Use

– Faustine

1. Land Use Pattern: Features of Sub-areas

The district can be divided into six sub areas characterised by different topography, land use and spatial attributes. Our study mainly focuses on the central area, the waterfront area, Kwai Shing area and Ha Kwai Chung area. For the general land use pattern, green belt takes up the largest proportion of land, followed by other specified uses and residential land.

1.1 Central Area

The central Kwai Chung area demonstrates the highest degree of vibrancy, in the form of gridded tenement blocks around public open space since the 1970s. The two roads Kwai Chung Road and Hing Fong Road are the backbone of the area which the subsidiary paths develop from the main roads.

1.2 Waterfront Area

The waterfront consists of mainly land intensive sea freight related uses and other specified uses including cemetery and crematoria services.

1.3 Kwai Shing Area

Kwai Shing area is densely populated with high rise public rental housing buildings. The hilly terrain has forced the layout of the overall road structure to follow existing contours, the level differences create intermittent open spaces.

1.4 Ha Kwai Chung Area

Ha Kwai Chung area is situated at the bottom of a small valley, again dominated by PRH blocks. Some forms of village development could be found in the area as well. Interestingly, the area has a cluster of hospital facilities.

2. Land Tenure

2.1 Expire in 1 Year

2.2 Expire in 2-8 Years

2.3 Expire in 9-15 Years

2.4 Special Purpose Lease

2.5 Industrial Zone

2.6 Assessment of Potential

 

Land Use Conversion

The lease on one year term is relatively more flexible for developing new land use. The industrial buildings are less possible but do catch the eyes of the government officials as the building age is generally high in the district.

opportunities and constraints

Many classmates have complained about different kinds of land use restrictions in the site. Land use conversion may be a solution but the changes are limited and often compartmental. We need to ask ourselves whether the current land use plan is suitable for the needs in the 21st century?

According to the current planning system in HK, the government is responsible for developing a territorial development strategy to guide future development. But they have adopted a reactive approach in solving urban problems, resulting in a low level planning. Here lies the opportunity to map our future through devising a sustainable strategy towards land planning.

Here I put the principles of city planning listed by the National Geographic Magazine. All the issues of the site in relation to the principle could be found in other sections except systems concerning food and energy.

Kwai Chung possesses the potential to develop into a self-contained neighbourhood, with existing waste and water treatment facilities. These systems form a circular economy vital for sustainability.

Below summarises some opportunities and constraints of land use planning in relation to different economic, social and environmental systems.
  1. Footnote:
    Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment. (2011, January). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/en/papers/TPB/TWK/S_KC_26_RV/S_KC_26_RV_Annex.pdf
  2. Southwest Kwai Chung. (2015, July 21). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/town_planning.pdf
  3. This is what the future’s sustainable cities could look like. (2019, March 15). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/04/see-sustainable-future-city-designed-for-people-and-nature/
    Town Planning. (2020, April). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/town_planning.pdf