All Rights ReservedChiu, Rebecca L.H.2025-02-122025-02-122016978-85-7785-551-1https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14235/2672Proceedings of the IV World Planning Schools Congress, July 3-8th, 2016 : Global crisis, planning and challenges to spatial justice in the north and in the southWith a populace itchy to establish full democracy and a political system not yet allowing political parties to form government, planning issues in Hong Kong have been politicized beyond the aim of prompt provision of land for economic activities, affordable housing and a livable environment. Since 2011, increasing planning and land development controversies arose partly because of the intensifying tension in the political system and partly because of the government’s identification of severe land supply shortage as the fundamental problem causing severe housing affordability problems, thus making relentless effort to search and develop new land for housing development. A quick survey of the mass media reports between 1911 and 2014 would find that nineteen housing concern groups were formed opposing to government’s proposed land use rezoning for housing development or government’s public housing projects. These oppositions eventually led to the revision or review of nine development projects. The grounds of opposition were inadequate transport, infrastructure or community facilities. These are legitimate concerns, but they also led to a total reducing of 15,340 housing units. Apparently there are trade-offs in the democratizing planning system: a more participatory planning process and a more empowered civil society versus slower land and housing development processes and therefore higher housing prices; and better livability versus slower pace to improve the housing quality of the disadvantaged groups.EnglishopenAccessconferenceObject140-143