Hong Kong's history which is one of rapid influxes of population swamping resources immediately available.
At present, therefore, there is no evidence to suggest that the planning standard of 516 persons per acre should be relaxed. But what does it mean? In practical terms it means what now exists in Kowloon and New Kowloon, which with 4,000 acres (ex- cluding the areas north of Lung Cheung Road which have been de- signated green belt, Kai Tak Airport and Military Establishments) and 2.2 million people has an average gross density of 485 persons per acre. This density will probably rise to 510 per- sons per acre when the last Govern- ment housing estates are completed.
In the older areas land is not im- mediately available to provide locally all the facilities the swollen population needs, and the town plans recently prepared for such areas as Yaumati aim to redress this present imbalance. I feel sure that no thinking person
will suggest that on the grounds of ex- pediency more people should be pack- ed in this area over present planning figures (and it is surprising how often this suggestion is made) but in the light of Hong Kong's situation can it be argued that the present density is unacceptable? If it is, then people will have to be decanted into the New Ter- ritories but this is easier said than done if the people do not want to move, if there is no ready employment for them there or if bus fares or travelling time make journeys to work expensive or unattractive.
K.M.L. 111 or that area adjacent to the Jordan Road Vehicular Ferry Pier. The density here has been estimated at 7,000 persons per net acre and, based upon average car ownership, 160 cars per net acre. If each car needs 150 sq.ft. for a parking space and they are parked on the road, then at this den- sity each acre of building land needs half an acre of kerb-side parking.
Traffic problems
Thank goodness, revisions to the Buildings Ordinance have cut down the size of building which can be built on a given site but it is still generous. The problem of traffic congestion and transportation is, therefore, with us to stay and already Hong Kong has one of the higest densities of traffic, mea- sured in terms of vehicles per mile of road, of any in the world. Newcomers to the Colony may not know that Hong Kong has probably employed more experts and has more informa- The classic example of this is tion on the past, present and future
Certain assumptions have been made in respect of the proportions of the population which will live in Gov- ernment or Government aided housing and private housing but this makes little difference to the basic planning concepts as the densities in private de- velopment, even of a reasonable type, often exceed those of the resettlement estates.
Density will rise to 510 persons per acre when the last Government housing estates are completed
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Far East BUILDER, May 1971