https://www.scmp.com/rss/512908/feed Calvin Au is a senior researcher at Civic Exchange. His work explores a cross-disciplinary range of Hong Kong issues, including nature conservation, urban development, and arts and culture. His analysis is informed by his academic background in human geography and environmental studies. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Calvin Au Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Calvin Au Hong Kong’s latest ballot for the sale of second-hand subsidised housing was oversubscribed by just five times – the lowest demand since the programme known as the White Form Secondary Market Scheme, started about a decade ago. This seeming decline in popularity, alongside the increased affordability of private housing, has led some to claim that subsidised housing is no longer needed. There has indeed been a growing overlap between Hong Kong’s subsidised and private housing markets. In 2021,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3310333/cheaper-private-flats-hong-kong-dont-erase-need-subsidised-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3310333/cheaper-private-flats-hong-kong-dont-erase-need-subsidised-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Endowed with abundant natural scenery, such as pristine beaches and majestic mountains, South Lantau is earmarked by the government to be developed for ecotourism and sustainable recreation. The two-month public consultation for the South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor ended in late July. Opinion is divided between different stakeholders, including Legislative Council members, conservationists and other concerned local groups. On the surface, this presents an impossible task for the government.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3274308/hong-kong-should-approach-south-lantau-project-purpose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3274308/hong-kong-should-approach-south-lantau-project-purpose?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Aug 2024 01:30:08 +0000 The Northern Metropolis development plan faces many challenges in striking a balance between conservation and development. Although the area possesses valuable natural resources, such as wetlands, which are crucial for the city’s well-being, Hong Kong is dealing with limited land that is suitable for development, resulting in a severe shortage of living space and a stalled industrial transformation. Developing the Northern Metropolis adjacent to the innovation and technology hub of Shenzhen is... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242476/why-hong-kong-must-adopt-nature-based-solutions-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242476/why-hong-kong-must-adopt-nature-based-solutions-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Nov 2023 01:30:19 +0000 After five waves of Covid-19, Hong Kong’s progress in public housing construction has severely slowed down. The Housing Authority announced in early 2022 that the average waiting time for public rental housing had reached six years. The news did not stir much public interest at the time, with our city focused on fighting the coronavirus. However, the issue became more pressing when the figure reached another record high in the spring. With the worst of the pandemic over, many Hongkongers expect... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3182759/how-hong-kong-can-untangle-gordian-knot-public-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3182759/how-hong-kong-can-untangle-gordian-knot-public-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jun 2022 01:00:25 +0000