More than just a street : how the community sustains the cultural significance of Shing Wong Street

Abstract

Over the past decades, Shing Wong Street, a street with rich historical background and social value, has been facing threats of urban development which could potentially diminish its social value. While urban development in Hong Kong has led to deterioration to urban heritage with deep impacts on community values, not many scholars have studied on the significance of the community’s contribution to a place. This thesis investigates the community’s contribution on shaping cultural significance of Shing Wong Street by understanding the story behind the community, and what challenges and opportunities in fostering social value among the community. Findings show that while the community contributes towards sustaining Shing Wong Street’s cultural significance, Shing Wong Street also provides a favorable environment for the community to foster social value, thus making their links inseparable. By understanding the significance of the community, policymakers and planners can make more informed decisions to protect and better integrate these values into future development.