The application of barrier-free facilities in shopping centres in Hong Kong

Abstract

This discussion studies the application of barrier-free facilities in shopping centres in Hong Kong. Through literature review of “barrier-free” concept and the oversea examples, the meaning of “barrier-free” is discussed. This study targets three categories of shopping centres namely shopping centers owned by The Hong Kong Housing Authority (the Housing Authority), shopping centres owned and managed by the Link and shopping centres privately owned by single developer. Via literature review, a questionnaire survey on disabled people about their general comments to different shopping centres and a site survey conducted to the six shopping centres from the perspective of property manager, the application of barrier-free facilities in two shopping centres of each category are examined. Research questions are raised and answered: what are facility users’ comments to each category of shopping centres when they were interviewed? Is there a relationship between the performance on facility categories and different shopping centres? Do the users’ comments differ from those of a property manager? Is there any difference between shopping centres managed by the same authority and why? What are major reason behind accessibility problems observed generally and how and who to improve the status quo? Sub chapter 3.5.1 reviews the questionnaire result that shopping centres owned and managed by the Link has the best performance in the application of different barrier-free facilities while the worst comments were given to shopping centers owned by the Housing Authority. Based on the questionnaire results, sub chapter 3.5.2 discusses the influence of business position of different shopping centres on the resources allocation, general policy and practice of barrier-free facilities based on questionnaire results reviewed in sub chapter 3.5.1. Sub chapter 4.4.1 discusses observation of uneven efforts on accessibility practices and facility application in different shopping centres under the same management authority after site survey in two shopping centres in each of three categories was conducted. Sub chapter 4.4.2 reviews the similarity in result of site survey and questionnaire survey conducted on the shopping centres owned and managed by The Link while the shopping centres owned by single developers are found to have worse performance on entrance accessibility as compared to questionnaire results. Observation of irresponsive attitude to overcome accessibility insufficiency is discussed in sub chapter 4.4.3. As the site survey exposes the lack of barrier free facilities and non-compliance with standards requirements in different shopping centres due to lack of advisory resources from the government, insufficient knowledge and skills of the management staff and lack of quality assurance in manufacturing and installation of barrier-free facilities, three suggestions are discussed in sub chapter 5.2.1, 5.3.1 and 5.4.1 including panel for registration and certification of quality contractors and service providers, vocational training and exchange of ideas, review on existing regulations for obligatory provision of barrier free facilities to improve the accessibility performance in different shopping centres.