ABSTRACT
Increasing world population has continually demanded intensive and sustainable development. However, problems come along with compact developments such as street canyon effect, overcrowdedness, insufficient greenery, and so forth. Some declare that there is an inherent tension between the notion of the compact city and people’s desire for a spacious, green, and quiet environment. This chapter explores the way to maintain positive relationship between the compact urban form and sustainability. Hong Kong has followed the high-rise, high-density, and intensive land use approach to development successfully during the twentieth century. The chapter introduces the history and the legal framework of development that has shaped Hong Kong’s compact form. It analyzes the approach and incentives that Hong Kong has utilized to achieve successful compact development.
