Housing colonialism: Regulating low density communities in 1950s Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong is famous for its high-density housing development. The European-centric planning during the pre-war period significantly shaped the spatial hierarchy. Notably, these low-density communities remain as exceptions to high-density built environment within the urban cores of Kowloon. New evidence indicates that the development dynamics of this low-density housing and the relevant regulations adopted by the colonial government in the 1950s significantly contributed to the contemporary modern regulations. This study examines the interplay between land leases and the Buildings Ordinance, to understand the development of property rights under colonial building regulations during the 1950s. During this period housing development and land speculation surged. Drawing on archival research of appeal cases within colonial memorandums, this study shows how ambiguities in the Buildings Ordinance and land lease shaped housing regulations. More importantly, this study reveals inconsistency within the colonial department agendas. It illustrates how the conflicting yet complementary functions of departmental agendas and building codes shaped the later practices of building regulation in Hong Kong. This tension not only contributes to an historical understanding of housing development densification, but also reveals how the rationales institutionalized through colonial departmental debates continue to influence today's housing landscape within the territory.