Asian Urbanization: A Hong Kong Casebook

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION by D. J . DWYE R During th e last twenty years, Hong Kong , in common with othe r parts of Asia and indeed th e developin g worl d generally , has face d massiv e problem s arisin g fro m rapid rate s o f increase o f the urban populatio n (Dwyer , 1968) . A t th e en d o f th e Pacific War, the populatio n stoo d a t abou t 600,000. By the end o f 197 0 it ha d rise n to abou t four millions , almost 90 % o f which wa s within th e twi n citie s o f Victoria and Kowloo n an d tw o ne w urba n areas , Tsue n Wa n an d Kwu n Ton g (Fig . 1) . The rapi d rat e of growth o f Hong Kong' s population, which is shown i n Figure 2 , 4J30Q0O03 .000,000800 .000700 .0001945 1967 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 1 5-18 10-14 5- 9 0 - 4 16 U 1 2 1 0 6 6 L 2 0 2 4 6 8 Figure 2 . Populatio n characteristics . The populatio n pyrami d wa s constructed fro m 196 1 Censu s statistics . has ha d a dua l basis . I n th e first place , a s elsewher e i n th e Thir d World , rate s of natural increas e have been high. Ove r the twenty years since 1947 , as far a s can be ascertaine d fro m th e official statistics , which ar e incomplete, the rate o f natura l increase ha s average d 25. 9 pe r mill e pe r annu m (Censu s an d Statistica l Plannin g Office, Hon g Kon g Government , persona l communication , 1968) . The birt h rat e is no w falling , probabl y becaus e o f birt h contro l an d certai n o f th e socia l effect s 2 D. J . DWYE R of increasin g urbanizatio n o f the population . Th e 195 8 rate o f 38. 8 per mill e ha d declined t o 18. 9 per mill e b y 1970 , though reduction s i n th e deat h rat e (fro m 7. 5 to 5.1 per mille over the same period) are offsetting a little of the benefit i n terms of population number s (Hon g Kon g Government , 1971 , p. 301). Of greate r importanc e tha n rate s o f natura l increas e ha s bee n th e cumulativ e effect o f immigratio n fro m Chin a upo n populatio n levels . The immediat e pre-wa r population o f Hon g Kon g was about 1. 6 millions . The spee d wit h which afte r th e war peopl e returne d t o the colon y fro m Chin a i s reflected b y th e initia l steep ris e in th e populatio n curv e show n i n Figur e 2 . Som e stabilit y ha d bee n reache d b y 1948; the n a swellin g flood o f refugee s bega n t o mov e int o Hon g Kon g a s th e communists gained ground i n the civil war in China. Immigratio n restrictions were introduced b y the Hong Kong Governmen t i n 195 0 but have proved onl y partiall y successful. Mor e decisiv e i n restrictin g th e refuge e flow has bee n th e exercis e o f close contro l o n the Chines e sid e of the border . I n Ma y 1962 , for example , whe n the Chines e government , fo r reason s unknown , relaxe d contro l o f it s sid e o f th e border fo r on e week, a wholesale refuge e invasio n o f the colon y too k place . Loca l estimates plac e th e numbe r o f person s wh o crosse d th e borde r durin g th e week , and managed t o evade arrest by the Hong Kong authorities and subsequen t retur...