Involving the in Building The Case of Western District Mee Kam NG The University of Hong Kong

Background of the District District Council: little knowledge about sustainable development District Council: little knowledge about sustainable development Partnership is not a popular concept Partnership is not a popular concept Residents have little knowledge about urban planning Residents have little knowledge about urban planning Government’s district planning has been top-down Government’s district planning has been top-down Staff and students: have little knowledge about the district Staff and students: have little knowledge about the district

Methodology Community Planning Workshops Workshop One Understanding Western District Understanding Western District Raising Community Awareness & Encouraging Inputs Raising Community Awareness & Encouraging Inputs Interviewing Community Members Interviewing Community Members

Key Community Concerns Reclamation: reducing the scale of reclamation to improve the environment Reclamation: reducing the scale of reclamation to improve the environment linking the old with the new linking the old with the new MTR extension MTR extension Urban renewal: in-situ rehousing Urban renewal: in-situ rehousing Housing mix: public & private housing Housing mix: public & private housing Steep streets: build escalators to improve access Steep streets: build escalators to improve access Routes 7 & 10: submerged Route 7 and abandon road reserve for route 10 Routes 7 & 10: submerged Route 7 and abandon road reserve for route 10 Extend the tram to the new reclamation Extend the tram to the new reclamation Open space Open space Waterfront promenade Waterfront promenade Heritage Heritage Hygiene: old areas Hygiene: old areas

Methodology Community Planning Workshops Workshop Two Generating planning ideas Generating planning ideas Sustainability Impact Assessment Sustainability Impact Assessment Feedback on Planning Ideas Feedback on Planning Ideas

Methodology Community Planning Workshops Workshop Three: Preparing a concept plan

Methodology Community Planning Workshops Workshop Three Evaluating the sustainability of the plan Evaluating the sustainability of the plan ResidentsElderlyBusinessYouth Social: relocation Economic: employment Environ- mental: QoL Overall

1 。 Sai Ying Pun 2 。 Shek Tong Tsui & University 3 。 Kennedy Town & Mt. Davis 4 。 Reclamation West 5 。 Reclamation East Methodology Community Planning Workshops Workshop Three: Action Plan

Methodology Phase II: Community Planning Workshops Workshop Three: Bringing the Plan to the Community

Students’ Concept Plan

Conclusion: Macro-level Difficulties of building sustainable communities in Hong Kong: Difficulties of building sustainable communities in Hong Kong:  Absence of local authorities  Lack of a territory-wide sustainable development strategy Hong Kong needs a sustainable development strategy that integrate macro and micro concerns to serve the needs of the public Hong Kong needs a sustainable development strategy that integrate macro and micro concerns to serve the needs of the public District Council should be provided with more professional planning resources to build up local partnership programmes to map out a local sustainable development blueprint District Council should be provided with more professional planning resources to build up local partnership programmes to map out a local sustainable development blueprint

Conclusion: Micro-level Sustainability of Western District: Sustainability of Western District:  Rich social and cultural capital  Needs more work on economic and environmental capital District Council: more knowledgeable about the concept of sustainable development District Council: more knowledgeable about the concept of sustainable development Partnership is realized Partnership is realized Residents empowered Residents empowered Students and staff members learned more about the District Students and staff members learned more about the District

Conclusion The exercise proved that community inputs (DCs, social workers, NGOs, residents, businessmen, university) is indispensable in formulating a local development blueprint The exercise proved that community inputs (DCs, social workers, NGOs, residents, businessmen, university) is indispensable in formulating a local development blueprint Community involvement ignites a sense of ownership and an urge for implementation Community involvement ignites a sense of ownership and an urge for implementation The Central and Western District has set up a Working Group on Sustainable Development to pursue the students’ recommended concept plan The Central and Western District has set up a Working Group on Sustainable Development to pursue the students’ recommended concept plan Building sustainable communities is a learning process: it is fun! Building sustainable communities is a learning process: it is fun! The learning process has to build upon trust, mutual respect and dialogue… Social capital is the lubricant… The learning process has to build upon trust, mutual respect and dialogue… Social capital is the lubricant…