Observations on Access and Use of Public Space during COVID-19 in Hong Kong and Taipei

Abstract

This paper compares the conditions and related responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong and Taipei, two cities which were among the first to be affected by the pandemic after the virus was first discovered in Mainland China. The cases of both cities offer interesting observations due to their earlier experiences with the SARS epidemic, which led to their prompt reaction, and helped to avoid general lockdowns and to keep most public spaces open. Public space, in the later discussion of worldwide pandemic, has been recognized as a crucial urban facility to mediate people’s outdoor activities and secure health and wellbeing issues. The more detailed comparison, however, identifies specific issues particularly in Hong Kong, where, despite the generally low number of infections and fatalities, the severe pre-existing socio-spatial inequalities were further exacerbated and affected vulnerable groups, such as domestic workers, elderly and urban poor. At this early stage, the paper aims to identify which policies have helped most, and which challenges would need to be addressed to improve people’s health and wellbeing and prepare better for future crises, particularly in the aspect of public space. The study of these two highly urbanized and densely populated cities is also relevant for the current debate about the relationship between urban density and pandemics, as both cities demonstrate that through decisive actions and civic responsibility, infection numbers could be kept comparably low.