Economic restructuring and land use planning in Hong Kong

Abstract

Due to the northward migration of its industries to China, Hong Kong has lost its position as a major manufacturing centre in Asia. It has undergone rapid economic restructuring since the late 1980s and is transforming itself into a financial and service centre. Economic restructuring in Hong Kong is mainly due to the adoption of the 'open door' policy in China in 1978 which provided opportunities for Hong Kong manufacturers to establish plants in China. Not only has this had a major impact on the development of Hong Kong, it has also had an impact on urban planning. Urban planning has to deal with the decline of old urban districts, increased demand for industrial/office building, and changes in the locational demands of industries. It also has to provide the basic infrastructure to attract new types of industries and economic activities to face the challenge of the rapid decline in its traditional manufacturing base. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.