Gentrification in Hong Kong

Gentrification has accompanied urban redevelopment / urban renewal in many global cities and led to increases in social polarization. While Hong Kong has experienced significant socio-economic polarization, with its shift from a manufacturing to a higher order services economy, this polarization has not been duplicated spatially in large part because of institutional and other obstacles to redevelopment of the city’s obsolete housing stock. Nevertheless redevelopment is accelerating primarily as a consequence of new state-led initiatives, as are complex processes of gentrification. This is occurring at a time that Hong Kong is experiencing significantly increased social and economic polarization that will be affected by and drive these gentrification processes. This subject is under-researched in Hong Kong. This study has two objectives. The first is to identify the main commercial changes in three case study areas of Kennedy Town, SoHo and the Mid-Levels Escalator and Wanchai (all on Hong Kong Island) associated with state-led and private sector initiated redevelopment and consequence gentrification. The second objective is to identify and evaluate the social consequences of gentrification on both the incomers and original residents, and consider implications for social and urban policy. With regard to the first objective it is proposed to conduct a detailed physical survey of retailing and commercial changes in land use in the study areas, track changes in rental levels and conduct interviews with local business representatives and building owners to identify the rate and change of commercial activities, changes in prices and rents, and any interest in redeveloping the buildings. With regard to the second objective it is proposed to conduct a series of in-depth interviews with both incomers and original residents to evaluate their perceptions of changes in the area, the cultural experience of living in a gentrified neighbourhood and relations between incomers and original residents. Interviews will also be conducted with professionals including urban planners, developers, chambers of commerce and local non-governmental organizations to ascertain their views on the impact of redevelopment in each case study area.