Hong Kong’s development continues at a fast pace. Tung Chee Hwa, SAR Chief Executive, highlighted the issues of urban renewal and demands for housing in October 1997. New infrastructure projects and massive residential developments are needed to accommodate a population that will exceed 8 million by the year 2011.

The Government’s Long Term Housing Strategy issued in February 1998 in answer to statements made by the Chief Executive’s in his 1998 policy address outlined the government’s concerns and promoted the access of all households to adequate and affordable housing.

There is an important link between urban planning and sustainability. International comparative studies within the region and an evaluation of the transferability of western planning/sustainability models to Asia needs to be carefully analysed. Asia is faced with unique conditions and these must be taken into account .

Several projects on the link between planning and urban sustainability are presently being undertaken at the University. One project aims to examine local sustainable development practice in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The September newsletter will examine more details on this research. Sustainable housing development and the overall environmental sustainability of the existing housing system of Hong Kong is also under scrutiny .

Creating a New Urban Renewal Framework for a Land Hungry City. This paper, produced for the Real Estate Developers Association in Hong Kong by the Centre for Real Estate and Urban Economics, was published in 1998 and examines the issues surrounding urban renewal in Hong Kong.