Context
Hong Kong is a region of China ruled under a "one country, two systems" style of government.
Daily Life
Hong Kong is a city with the most number of skyscrapers in the world. Being filled with skyscrapers and high rises, virtually all citizens reside in small living spaces of around 540 square ft (Boland). Because living quarters are so tight, Hong Kongers are often found outside the home, traveling their own city. Citizens commute using transit options such as the MTR metro system, ferries, buses, and the longest outdoor escalator system in the world. In their free time, Hong Kongers love to shop, with Boland remarking, "shopping in Hong Kong is a lifestyle, a passion, and an addiction." While not shopping, many residents make use of the numerous parks, as Hong Kong's "park system covers some two-fifths of the land area" (Leung). Another popular pastime is betting on horse racing, which happens at the Happy Valley Racecourse. Additionally, the area is rich in culture as a hybrid of the East and West. The Hong Kong Arts Festival is held annually, and is a major event in Asia, displaying the impressive and varied culture of the region. Hong Kong is also a patron of the arts, with groups such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Chung Ying Theatre Company, and the City Contemporary Dance Company (Leung).
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RegionSkyscrapers comprise the majority of buildings in Hong Kong. The unique style of space-saving architecture that has developed in the region contributes to its beauty. Traditional Tang-Styled architecture seen at left uses tiered roofs and natural elements to create a sense of serenity while modern buildings such as the Bank of China Tower use clean lines and reflective surfaces to create a powerful, breathtaking presence. The city skyline attributes to the beauty of the region, but it it far from the only breathtaking sight. As previously mentioned, the extensive park system also includes nature reserves. These reserves foster diverse, luscious plant life such as mangrove forests and beautiful red pines (Leung). Migratory birds are another common sight in reserve, with Mai Po Marshes housing over 55,000 in recent years ("Mai Po Marshes"). Hong Kong is a wonderful blend of traditional and modern, nature and innovation.
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Challenges
A growing problem Hong Kong is facing is the increasing wealth gap arising from an increase in housing prices. Housing prices have more than tripled in the past 15 years which has helped fuel the current civil unrest. Additionally, the global charity network Oxfam categorized the wealth disparity in Hong Kong as "particularly severe," and the highest among developed countries. Hong Kong's housing is the most expensive in the world. These prices are made impossibly high by business tycoons who rule the real estate business (Tan). This process leads to an increasing gap between the city's wealthiest and everyday citizens. For those who make a fraction of a financial advisor's income (which is weho the housing market is directed at), they can buy literally the fraction of an apartment. "Nano- flats" are apartments that can be the size of a parking space. Ordinary citizens are at the mercy of big business leaders when it comes to places to live, adn tensions have been rising for over a decade now. Problems with inadequate housing options have fueled general social discontent, and will continue to be an issue until prices are made to be more reasonable.
On a different note, Hong Kong is also running out of options to dispose of plastic waste. China banned importing waste in 2018, and Hong Kong has been struggling to improve their local recycling intake to keep up with the issue. While in the short term it has turned to sending waste to other nations in Southeast Asia, these countries are also banning the import of waste due to such overwhelming volumes they've received (Chan). Using a high volume of plastics is an issue common to many developed regions, but in a city with limited space such as Hong Kong, it is a mounting issue. |
Works Cited
Boland, Rory. “Brief Photo Tour of Daily Life in Hong Kong.” TripSavvy 6 June 2019. Web. Accessed 16 Jan. 2020.
Chan, Wendell. "With China shutting its doors, can Hong Kong find a way out of its waste crisis?" South China Morning .............Post 5 Jan. 2020. Web. Accessed 17 Jan. 2020.
Leung, Chi-Keung. "Hong Kong." Encyclopædia Britannica 6 Dec. 2020. Web. Accessed 16 Jan. 2020.
"Mai Po Marshes." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, inc, 9 Sept. 2019. Web. Accessed 16 Jan. 2020.
Tan, Huileng. "Economist: Hong Kong’s tycoons ‘are the problem’ underlying recent unrest." CNBC 15 Aug. 2019. Web. .............Accessed 17 Jan. 2020.
Chan, Wendell. "With China shutting its doors, can Hong Kong find a way out of its waste crisis?" South China Morning .............Post 5 Jan. 2020. Web. Accessed 17 Jan. 2020.
Leung, Chi-Keung. "Hong Kong." Encyclopædia Britannica 6 Dec. 2020. Web. Accessed 16 Jan. 2020.
"Mai Po Marshes." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, inc, 9 Sept. 2019. Web. Accessed 16 Jan. 2020.
Tan, Huileng. "Economist: Hong Kong’s tycoons ‘are the problem’ underlying recent unrest." CNBC 15 Aug. 2019. Web. .............Accessed 17 Jan. 2020.