16
HONG KONG
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
even 20, years ago were built to lower standards when the territory was less affluent, and have since deteriorated. In most of these run-down areas, also, there is severe overcrowding and a general lack of space for normal amenities.
This is why the plans being drawn up for new land reclamations around the harbour are being co-ordinated with proposals for redeveloping some of the more rundown areas and reducing excessive densities. The government, itself, is planning new public housing and a restructuring of the road network in certain areas to assist in this process. And a new Land Development Corporation is being established to undertake, promote and facilitate private sector redevelopment in these areas, either by acting on its own to acquire and develop run-down property, or by entering into joint ventures with other developers.
All this again underlines the crucial importance which the harbour reclamations now being planned will play in future development strategy. For they will need to serve a number of complementary purposes. First, they will provide an opportunity to build new roads and other transport links which will help relieve overcrowding on existing systems and speed journey times. Secondly, some of them may assist in providing efficient transport connections between any new port and airport developments and the rest of the territory. Thirdly, in providing more space adjacent to the existing urban areas around the harbour, they will assist in plans for urban renewal and restructuring. Finally, in deciding where and how to proceed, attention will have to be paid to environmental factors, particularly the need to improve water quality within the harbour and nearby coastal waters where there is already evidence of potentially serious deterioration. There is no doubt that, whatever decisions are made on these interlocking issues, they will profoundly affect not only the future physical development of the territory, but also the future development of its economy and social structure.
Conclusion
One conclusion that stands out from the above story is that over the years each new phase of development in Hong Kong has been more ambitious than the previous one. This is because each phase of investment has provided the underpinning for further growth in the economy which, in turn, has produced the extra resources to undertake the next phase of development. Throughout the process the private and the public sectors have played complementary roles. The private sector has provided the investment for the development of industry, commerce, finance and much residential development, as well as some fundamental facilities such as the container port and the electric power stations. The public sector has, in turn, provided most of the basic economic and social infrastructure, including roads and railways, the airport, water supplies, schools and hospitals and so on.
There is no doubt that over the years each has shown confidence in the future of Hong Kong and faith in the future growth of its economy and society. There are many concrete signs at the present time that this confidence and faith in the future of the territory as a prosperous, expanding and dynamic society is continuing.
There is plenty of building for the future still to be done. In particular, the new horizons which have emerged for Hong Kong in recent years, as the Chinese economy has opened to the outside world and is conducting more trade and business through, and with the help of, Hong Kong, are providing new opportunities and new challenges. By maintaining its confidence in its ability to seize the opportunities and face the challenges, Hong Kong's future prosperity will be assured.