The Economic Transformation of Hong Kong

Three stages of economic development in HK:

a. Entrepot

B. Industrial City

c. Industrial Financial Centre

 

Economic activities involved in entrepot trade

- Goods shipped via HK:

From China to Europe: Silk, porcelain, tea

From India to China: Opium

- Shipping industry

Since late 19^th century

Shipping services between Europe, HK and China

- Other local industries

E.g. Ship building, ship repairing (dockyards)

 

Major industries in the stage of industrialization

- Textiles

- Clothing

- Plastics

- Toys

- Electronics

- Clocks

- Watches

- Other fast growing industries: electronics, watches and clocks, and toys.

LIGHT INDUSTRY

Light industry (features)

- Requires some technology

- Labour intensive/ involved lots of manpower

- Required low-skilled labour

- Could be produced in small-scale factories

- Export-oriented

- Imported -> Processed in HK -> turned the raw materials into semi-finished goods or final products

 

Economic diversification

- It refers to the extension of economic base

- There are more economic sectors and they are becoming more important than the secondary industry in 1970s.

- Examples: Instead of just making things, they open up hotels

 

Factors prompting economic diversification in Hong Kong and facilitated HK to become a financial centre:

a. Rising living standards

- Higher education level (compulsory in 1978) + Economic success

                - Rise of middle class

                - Increasing local consumption (buying luxurious items)

                - More tertiary industries

b. Competitions from Tai Wan and South Korea

- Because of higher production cost -> shifting of light industries to other areas of China

c. Strategies of investment

- Because of China’s reform and opening up policy

                - Increasing foreign investments

                - Industries moved northward

d. Business networks and experience

- Well-established business networks

- Availability of professional and supporting services

e. Hong Kong Government’s Role

- Employing the policy of positive non-intervention and allowing free market

- No foreign exchange control

- Simple and low tax policy

*Hong Kong developed into an international financial centre.

 

Four Pillar Industries in HK

a. Financial Services

b. Tourism

c. Trading and Logistics

d. Producer and Professional Services

 

Recent development -> Knowledge-based economy

It requires

- Labour with professional skills, good educational background, and rich working experience

- High level of technology (emphasis) and creativity

 

Hong Kong Identity

Identity

- Determines our rights and duties

- Influences our values and behaviours

- Reflects the meaning of our existence in society

- Provides a sense of security

- Affects the ways people communicate with each other

 

Criteria for “Hong Kong people”

1. A Chinese national born in Hong Kong

2. A Chinese national + resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of more than/equal to 7 years

3. A person of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong to a parent who was a Chinese citizen at the time the person was born

4. A person , whose nationality is not Chinese, but entered Hong Kong with a valid travel visa, has resided in Hong Kong continuously for 7 years and regards Hong Kong as a permanent place of residence

5. Legally

6. Socially

7. Culturally

8. Ethnically

9. Politically

 

Criteria for “Chinese people”

1. Legally: refers to a person who has Chinese nation ability in accordance with the laws of China (no dual nationality)

2. Culturally: refers to a person who loves Chinese culture, becomes accustomed to a Chinese lifestyle and enjoys living in China (regardless of his/her nationality)

3. Ethnically: Of Chinese descent, despite his/her nationality

 

Factors affecting Hong Kong people’s sense of identity

	1941-1969	1970-2000
Political	- Under Japanese Rule - Harsh lives  (Couldn’t make a living) - 1967 Riot (improved afterwards) - Anti-colonial government - Discrimination against Chinese	- Pressing issue—handover - No freedom of speech/ press/ human rights - Corruption of provincial/ village government - June Fourth Incident
Economic		- Prosperous with a lot of mainland immigrants - Full of opportunities - Stock market is strong - Professional (Technology)
Social	- Textile industry (harsh lives) - Poor living condition (Live in squatter areas) - Fires - Water control	- Inflation - Freedom - Food safety - Rural dwellers are very poor
Cultural		- Materialistic, money-minded - Efficiency, quick, speed -> stress - Learn to speak Putonghua - Fearful of Communist rule -> emigration - Mainland: spitting, hardworking, low sense of civic awareness
Others		Regard as Hong Konger Legally: Mainland government: only rule of man, not rule of law Mainlanders: Hardworking, very rigid, not evidence-based, violent Achievements: Technology, astronauts, sports Ideologically: Hong Kong people: Pro-capitalist

 

 

Heritage Conservation- an introduction

I. What is “heritage”?

- A property that descends to an heir

- Tangible or intangible

- Categorized into 4 different levels

                - Personal/family

                - Local (to all Hong Kong people)

                - National

                - World

 

II. Significances of a heritage

Historic Significance

- Associated with famous people, important events, places and themes

- Reflected the ordinary way of life of people in the past

Aesthetic Significance

- Unique craftsmanship, style, technical excellence, beauty, demonstration of skill, quality of design

Social significance

- People have strong affection for it

- Contributes to the community’s identity and social cohesion

 

III. Types of tangible heritage in Hong Kong

1. Declared monuments

- Its presence is protected by law

- If demolished, would have serious consequences

 

 

2. Proposed monuments

- Grade 1

                - Every effort should be made to preserve if possible

- Grade 2

                - Efforts should be made to selectively preserve

- Grade 3

                - Alternative means could be considered if preservation is not possible

*Basis for judgment

- Historic significance

- Aesthetic significance

- Social significance

- Local interest

- Authenticity

- Rarity/ Uniqueness

 

 

Evaluation of preservation of different historic buildings

I. Preservation Principles

1. Relocation and Reconstruction

- Original building was demolished + moved to another site

- Building materials were kept

 - Detached from the environment + context -> entails some loss of cultural values

- Is generally unacceptable unless this is the only practical means of ensuring its survival.

- Demolition (because of land value) is the worst because it demolishes all significances

2. Revitalisation and Rehabilitation

- Original appearance of the historic building is kept

- However, the function was changed -> a new life is given

- Keeping the building in use as a way to preserve it

- Adaptive reuse of the buildings is often the only way to balance historical, aesthetic and economic needs

3. Preservation

- Function unchanged, may have original or modified appearance

- To keep the building in its present state, e.g. by maintenance, cleaning

- No action is undertaken to return the building its original appearance

4. Conservation

- An integral part of good management of historic sites of cultural significance

- The most ideal preservation principle

- Bears witness and from the setting in which it occurs

- Minimal change

- Respect associations and meanings

- Where appropriate should provide continuation of practices which contribute to the cultural significance of the place.

Evaluation of preservation of different historic buildings

II. Is a historic building well-preserved?

Factors to consider

1. Location

- Any changes? Unavoidable?

2. Function

- Original or any changes?

3. Appearance

- Are the appearances the same?

- Same building materials?

4. Environment

- Any changes?

- Great change?

5. Preservation principle

- Relocation

- Revitalization

- Preservation

- Conservation

6. Other factors

- Case-specific

 

 

 

Cultural Preservation

 

What are the reactions of the landlords when they know that the buildings they own are labelled as “historically significant buildings”?

- Shocked

- Take legal actions by issuing official complaints

 

Factors affecting preservation of historic buildings in HK

- Money-minded/Economic-driven mindset

- Real estate-led economy

 

Reasons for preservation

1. Architectural style reflecting the contemporary time

2. Historic significance

3. Collective memory of the public (Social significance)

4. Type of building is rare in Hong Kong and soon will go extinct

5. Building represents a unique style that only exist in Hong Kong

 

Reasons against preservation

1. Economic potential in developing new buildings

2. Urban decay

(Buildings becoming old and dilapidated; people looking for better quality of life moving out; population decreases in the area)

3. Affecting quality of life

E.g. transportation (e.g. the reason behind the demolition of the Queen’s Pier in Central is to build a road to alleviate the pressure from the traffic.)