Introduction to Hong Kong’s Development

Abstract

Hong Kong is a unique city state that, partly due to its strategic location in South-east Asia, has grown into one of the top-ranked global cities in terms of per capita GDP. Its mountainous terrain and limited supply of buildable land resulted early on in urban areas with extreme population densities. The compact urban form was further stimulated by using mass transit as the backbone of urban development. Different urban rail systems were integrated, and smart technology was introduced early on to stimulate its use. Today, Hong Kong has one of the highest public transport modal splits in the world. Hong Kong has developed high-density transit-oriented developments, but these TODs are not always well integrated into their urban contexts, creating barriers for pedestrians. Hong Kong also has a relatively high rate of telecommunication connectivity, which has facilitated the growth of the economy and enabled the population and businesses to be fully connected to the global economy.