Increasing public housing density in hyper-dense Hong Kong: implications for recreation space

Abstract

In recent years, the government of Hong Kong has attempted to increase the supply of public housing, through proposing single-block developments on small sites. However, given the hyper-dense urban environment in Hong Kong, such proposals have triggered heavy opposition from the public, and have been negatively framed as ‘needle block’ developments. This paper examines two of these controversial proposals, located in districts where there is already a high density of public housing flats. Through a systematic analysis of government documents, district council minutes and news reports, this paper addresses three key questions: What are the reasons behind opposition? What solutions has the government proposed to mitigate public concerns? Given the negative framing of ‘needle block’ developments, how do we explain the outcomes in each case? The findings suggest that opposition is not driven by selfish NIMBYism, but rather by legitimate concerns about under-provision of recreation facilities and open space. To some extent, opposition has been mitigated through flexible approaches to site design, such as creation of podium gardens or setting aside lower levels of the housing blocks for sports or other recreation facilities. The paper concludes by considering policy changes that could improve quality of life in dense urban areas in Hong Kong.