FROM SELF-CONTAINED NEW TOWNS TO NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS

The construction of New Towns in Hong Kong began in the 1970s, to alleviate the contradiction between excessive population growth and land shortage in the metropolitan area (He, Tao, et al., 2020). The planning model developed from New Town 1.0, represented by Sha Tin, to New Town 3.0, represented by Tin Shui Wai and Tseung Kwan O, to ‘New Development Area’ as New Town 4.0.

The design principles and function mixing model of the new towns have developed with the changes in Hong Kong’s economy, aiming to provide residents with higher quality living conditions. Some researchers have emphasized however, that the existing new towns still have several serious social problems, such as social segregation, jobs-housing imbalance (Hui & Lam, 2005), and a lack of street vibrancy (Tieben,

2016), which could be attributed to monofunctional land-use patterns and planning ideas.

Initially, the New Towns emphasized ‘balanced development’ and ‘self-sufficiency’, implying that inhabitants would be able to find jobs within a limited travel distance and no longer have to rely on the metropolitan area. Likewise, the initial objective was to attract the manufacturing industries from the metropolitan area (Wang et al., 2017). When these industries declined, although the design philosophy was adapted in recent years, further improvements could be made to ensure new forms of self-sufficiency. The development of several New Development Areas in the coming years brings a key opportunities to develop new types of urban communities in a more synergistic way.

New Town planning models have evolved from Satellite Cities to New Development Areas (NDA), and the design philosophy of new towns has shifted from ‘self- containment’ towards integration with surrounding urban areas and networks (research by Cheng Sifan and Wang Yuxin).

The current condition of employment and housing statistics shows and the uneven distribution of job opportunities. People living in New Town still suffer long commuting distances, which may have a negative impact on their health, well being, and their family and community life (research by Cheng Sifan and Wang Yuxin).