G7 Term 1 Geog form 1 Quiz

Urban Areas

• Urban areas in Hong Kong cover a quarter of its land area, primarily located in the northern parts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and new towns in the New Territories.
• Urban areas are characterized by higher population density, taller and more closely spaced buildings, and a wider range of facilities compared to rural areas.

Central-Sheung Wan District

• The Central-Sheung Wan district is a densely developed urban area in the north of Hong Kong Island.
• The district is characterized by a predominance of commercial, residential, and institutional land uses, evident in the 1:20,000 map.
• The district's skyline is dominated by tall buildings, including the Two IFC (94 stories high), the tallest in the area.
• A well-developed road network connects the district to other parts of the city, including major roads like Connaught Road and Queen's Road.

Lai Chi Wo

• Lai Chi Wo is a rural area in the northeast New Territories with minimal urban development.
• The area is characterized by a predominance of woodland and farmland, as illustrated in the 1:5,000 map.
• Houses are low-rise and sparsely distributed, with only a few stories high.
• The area lacks main roads, with only footpaths for locals and visitors.

Types of Urban Land Use

• Seven major types of urban land use in Hong Kong include residential, industrial, commercial, recreational, institutional, transport, and mixed.

Urban Land Use Distribution in Hong Kong

• Residential land use occupies 28% of all urban land, followed by transport land at 24%.
• Residential areas are widely distributed, covering old urban areas and new towns like Tai Koo Shing, Ma On Shan, Kwun Tong, Tai Kok Tsui, Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O, Central, and Tsim Sha Tsui.
• Industrial land use is concentrated in new towns and urban centers.
• Commercial land use is primarily located in urban centers, including Penny's Bay, Sai Kung, Admiralty, Stonecutters Island, Chek Lap Kok, and Kwai Tsing.
• Recreational, institutional, and transport land uses are scattered throughout the territory, for example, Admiralty (Government Headquarters), Stonecutters Island (Sewage treatment works), Chek Lap Kok (Airport), and Kwai Tsing (Container terminals).

Residential Areas

• High-income residential areas have low population density, expensive spacious flats, beautiful views, and a quiet and comfortable living environment, typically located on high ground or away from the urban center (e.g., The Peak and Kowloon Tong).
• Middle-income residential areas have higher population density than high-income areas, smaller flats, a pleasant living environment, and sufficient facilities (e.g., private housing estates like Tai Koo Shing and Whampoa Garden).
• Low-income residential areas have high population density, small flats, and a crowded living environment, found in public housing, old urban areas, and squatter areas.

Industrial Development

• Three stages of industrial development in Hong Kong include before the mid-1970s, between the mid-1970s and the 1990s, and since the late 1990s.
• Before the mid-1970s, industries like textiles and toy-making grew rapidly in multi-story factory buildings in older urban areas (e.g., Chai Wan and San Po Kong).
• Between the mid-1970s and the 1990s, industrial estates and zones were developed in new towns, attracting industries needing larger factory spaces and providing jobs nearby.
• Since the late 1990s, Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport were built to support high-tech industries, located near universities with many IT professionals.

Distribution of Industrial Areas

• The distribution of industrial areas in Hong Kong has changed over time, with industrial areas moving from the urban center to new towns and then to locations near universities supporting high-tech industries.

Industrial and Residential Area Development

• Old industrial areas were built close to low-income residential areas, providing abundant labor for factories and saving commuting time and costs for workers, but resulted in pollution and safety concerns.
• Modern industrial areas in new towns are separated from residential areas by green belts, recreational areas, and community facilities to reduce negative impacts.
• High-tech industries are often located in suburbs close to high-income residential areas, as the pleasant environment attracts IT professionals.

Central Business District (CBD)

• The CBD, the major commercial area of Hong Kong, has expanded from its original location in Central to include Sheung Wan and Admiralty.
• The CBD provides land for commercial uses, including headquarters and offices of corporations and financial institutions, offices for professional services, luxury goods shops and malls, and high-end hotels.
• Competition for land in the CBD leads to very tall and dense buildings with high rents.
• Central and Admiralty serve as the administrative center of Hong Kong, housing major government institutions.
• The CBD also provides venues for recreational and cultural activities, such as the Central Harbourfront Event Space and revitalized historic buildings.
• The CBD experiences heavy pedestrian and traffic flow, especially during peak hours, leading to traffic congestion.