A study of the applicability of urban village reformation in Hong Kong

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate the applicability of urban village reformation (UR) in Hong Kong. With reference to Mainland experience, several criteria for UR to be successful are concluded, including: 1) Well-designed renewal plan; 2) Cooperation between government, private sectors and villagers; 3) Legal assistance; 4) Sufficient financing and 5) Ensure future of urban villages. As agreed by interviewees in the dissertation, UR is a worthy study topic and a possible solution on resolving urban villages problems in Hong Kong. One of the interviewees highlighted the importance of tailored UR design and Comprehensive Improvement type Urban Village Reformation (CRUR). The other interviewees indicated that the Hong Kong government is the most important initiator of UR. She also emphasised that UR is technically feasible in Hong Kong, but the main hinderer belongs to political issues. Existence of urban villages in New Territories (NT) are proved based on definition from Mainland. Geographic location, facility, outlook and economy of urban villages in NT are illustrated with actual examples and Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). Besides, problems in urban villages, including limiting development potential, poor planning, loosen construction control, poor living environment and high potential risk, are discussed. Based on the existence of urban villages, UR are recommended to resolve the problems in one goal. In general, it is suggested that the government should initiate the study of UR as soon as possible, select testing points for prior UR schemes, measure actual figures of indigenous and reassess land boundaries for villagers. Regarding adoption of UR, the government should consider and follow the UR successful criteria concluded from Mainland experience. Besides, CRUR should always be considered first and it is suggested that CRUR can be adopted through renting villagers’ houses. On the other hand, an alternative UR approach is Demolishment & Redevelopment type Urban Village Reformation (DRUR). It involves redevelopment of the whole urban villages. Adoption of DRUR should be considered prudently since it may completely reform the original society and living environment of villagers. Besides, Leading parties of all UR projects shall discuss and negotiate with other stakeholders proactively to achieve the most appropriate and satisfactory UR approach. While UR is technically feasible in Hong Kong, “Ding” right issues will be a large difficulty hindering UR adoption. However, it is found that this difficulty may reduce in view of the possible extinction of “Ding” right in 2029.