Proposals

30/9/2012

[Honours Project Proposal]

Hong Kong is a small city, and is famous for the beautiful night view—thanks to the intensity of buildings and never-switch-off neon lights. There are more and more buildings within our tiny city: shopping malls, and residential buildings. These buildings undoubtedly bring new entertainments and space for us citizens to use. However, when looking back to the disappearing old community area, the amount of public spaces seems decreasing silently. Graffiti are removed; street sleepers have no place to stay, street dancers were expulsed. Most Hong Kong people live peacefully in a well planned area, yet we seem have no rights and responsibility to our own city. I wonder who owns this city: us citizen, the government or merchants? I would like to investigate more about public space, citizens’ right of using public space.

3/10/2012

[Honours Project 1^st meeting with supervisor]

To give further explain to my last proposal, there are 3 main points I would like to highlight (refer to my last proposal): Disappearing Old Community and public space; Types of New constructions- space and effect to our culture; and our Rights and responsibility to Hong Kong.



The disappearing old buildings and streets are marking the fading of the old generation and old living style. The change of recreational area(both in style and location) would make changes to some local cultural activities. For instance, Lower ngau tou kok estate and Wan Chai market. The living style and people's living environment changes because of urban renewal.  [wt's Hong Kong culture]

Second, the government is now undertaking the urban renewal project in different districts with old buildings, and would like to transform them into some modern-like districts. As a citizen, such large-scale construction bring more inconvenience to citizens rather than benefits. It is not a human-based project for citizens within this decade. [The final benefit would go to who's pocket? citizens/ merchants]

Rights and responsibilities of citizens can actually be reflected everywhere in Hong Kong.
For example, the un-used areas under highways and parks are used to be open to public use, yet under the 'management' of merchants/government, citizens' freedom were being deprived.