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NEW TOWNS AND EMPLOYMENT
In order to cope with the massive housing demand and population pressure, the British Hong Kong government implemented the new town development programme in 1973. After decades of development, the new towns are generally considered successful but still contain several issues such as a jobs-housing imbalance and a lack of imbalance of social and cultural infrastructure. The New Town development model may need to be rethought in the context of the long term sustainable development of Hong Kong.
A key Quality of Living related issue is the lack of employment opportunities in the New Towns. With the decline of the manufacturing industry in Hong Kong since the 1970s and 80s, several towns which were planned around the notion of ‘self-contained communities’, have become primarily residential towns with the majority of its population commuting to jobs located elsewhere. The urban planning of the New Towns, derived from the ‘rational city planning’ strategies of the Garden City and the Modernist movement, has implemented a separation of live and work, reinforced by large scale monofuctional land plot development. Centralised retail facilities operated by large commercial entities reduce opportunities for street-based shops and local businesses, and consequently for the potential for entrepreneurialism to contribute to social mobility. demography
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Besides top-down planning strategies to bring companies and employment to the New Territories, a restructuring of zoning restrictions could help promote local businesses and mixeduse neighbourhoods. If the New Towns can be developed to attract young talent, start-ups and social enterprises, this could enhance the social and economic resilience, contributing to the development of local communities and the wider society.
Tuen Mun New Town in Hong Kong
The demography of Tuen Mun
Current commute pattern of Tuen Mun residents
Work in another district
Non-working population
Site
175,821 commuters (Year 2016)
Tuen Mun New Town in Hong Kong
Mun New Town in Hong Kong
Tuen Mun New Town in Hong Kong The demography of Tuen
Work in another district
Work in Tuen Mun
Mun
Current commute pattern of Tuen Mun residents
(Year 2016) in Tuen Mun Non-working population
03. Site 012 5km Metro Vehicles Destinations Shatin Kowloon City Sham Shui Po Tsuen Wan Kuai Chung Kwun Tong Tuen Mun New Town Central and Western Wan Chai Eastern Yau Tsim Mong 012 Northern Economic Belt Transport corridor One Metropolitan Business Core Lok Ma Chau Man Kam To Ping Che Kai Tak Tuen Mun Central Kau Yi Chau Zhuhai/ Macau Shenzhen West Shenzhen Central Shenzhen East Work
1966
Tuen Mun New Town was founded as satellite town
60s-70s
1966 60s-70s
Tuen Mun New Town was founded as satellite town
Designated industrial district that allowed residents to work within Tuen Mun
Designated industrial district that allowed residents to work within Tuen Mun
Source:
1966 60s-70s 80s
Industrial businesses of Hong Kong started declining
Tuen Mun New Town was founded as satellite town
Industrial businesses of Hong Kong started declining
Majority of working population in Tuen Mun work in another district 80s 2020
Regional gateway for Western Economic Corridor Transport
Majority of working population in Tuen Mun work in another district
Designated industrial district that allowed residents to work within Tuen Mun
2030+
Regional gateway for Western Economic Corridor Tuen Mun New Town on reclaimed land Tuen Mun industrial district Tuen Mun Station West rail line Shenzhen
Regional gateway for Western Economic Corridor
Regional gateway for Western Economic Corridor
Industrial businesses of Hong Kong started declining
37 NEW TERRITORIES TOMORROW
