📘 Geography Notes: Urban Studies (Topics 1-6)
Topic 1: Where are the large cities in the world?
1.1 Location of Hong Kong
• Continent: Asia (China)
• Region: Southeastern part of China
• Hemisphere: Northern Hemisphere
• Near: Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N)
• Ocean: Pacific Ocean (to the east)
1.2 Latitude and Longitude
• Latitude: Lines running east-west, measure N/S
• Important lines:
o Equator (0°)
o Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) - HK near this
o Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S)
o Arctic Circle (66.5°N)
o Antarctic Circle (66.5°S)
• Hemispheres: Northern/Southern divided by Equator
Topic 2: Urban vs Rural Areas
Urban Areas
• Characteristics:
o Many buildings, closely spaced
o Large population, dense settlement
o Jobs: commercial, service, industrial
o Convenient transport
o Land use: housing, shops, offices
• Location in HK: HK Island, Kowloon, New Towns
Rural Areas
• Characteristics:
o Fewer buildings, widely spaced
o Smaller population
o Jobs: farming, fishing
o Inconvenient transport
o Land use: farmland, fish ponds, woodland, country parks
• Location in HK: New Territories, outlying islands (e.g., Lantau)
Map Skills
• Conventional signs: Symbols on maps (pond, road, hospital, etc.)
• Grid references:
o 4-figure: e.g., 9586 (easting then northing)
o 6-figure: e.g., 952865 (more precise)
Topic 3: Urban Land Use in HK
6 Major Types:
1. Commercial - shops, offices, banks (Central, Tsim Sha Tsui)
2. Residential - housing (most common land use in HK)
3. Industrial - factories, warehouses (San Po Kong, Kwun Tong)
4. Institutional - gov't, schools, hospitals
5. Transport - MTR, airport, roads
6. Recreational - parks, playgrounds (Victoria Park, Disneyland)
Distribution:
• Commercial: Both sides of Victoria Harbour
• Mixed use: Common in old areas (Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok)
• Industrial: Old areas + new town industrial estates
• Recreational: Widely distributed, includes town parks
Topic 4: Central Business District (CBD)
Characteristics of Central District (CBD):
1. High-order activities: Banks, luxury shops, professional services
2. High accessibility: Many transport facilities, well-developed road network
3. High land rent: Can be afforded by high-order commercial users
Why Central is the CBD:
1. Long history - developed since 19th century
2. Convenient transport - easy access
3. Symbol of status - prestigious location
4. Concentration of related services - banks, law firms together
5. High-order activities can afford high rents
Topic 5: Residential & Industrial Areas
3 Types of Residential Areas:
Type Distribution Examples Characteristics
High- High ground, Peak, Mid-Levels, Large flats, good view,
income waterfronts, suburbs Hong Lok Yuen quiet, expensive
Middle- Private housing Tai Koo Shing, Good facilities, pleasant
income estates Whampoa Garden environment
Low- Public housing, old Choi Hung Estate, Small flats, crowded,
income urban areas Sham Shui Po cheap rent
Industrial Areas:
• Old urban areas: Flatted factories (To Kwa Wan, San Po Kong)
• New towns: Industrial estates (Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tai Po)
Why residential near industrial?
1. Historical: Factories needed workers nearby
2. Cost-saving: Workers saved transport
3. Poor past planning: No proper zoning
Problems (Land use conflict):
• Traffic congestion
• Noise and air pollution
• Fire risk
• Crowded environment
Topic 6: Urban Problems in HK
A. Housing Problems:
1. Inadequate supply - long waiting for public housing
2. High prices - HK ranked #1 worldwide
3. Crowded conditions - subdivided flats, small spaces
B. Urban Decay (Old urban areas):
• Crowded environment
• Little open space
• Old, poor buildings
• Mixed land use causing conflict
• Narrow streets → traffic congestion
C. Pollution:
• Air: Cars, vessels, power plants
• Water: Sewage
• Noise: Traffic, construction
• Solid waste: Domestic/commercial
• Light: Signboards in old areas
D. Traffic Congestion:
• Where: Central District, cross-harbour tunnels
• Causes: Many vehicles, narrow roads
Causes of Urban Problems:
1. Small area + hilly relief - limited flat land
2. Growing population - high demand
3. Poor past planning - mixed land use, narrow roads
4. Rapid economic growth - more cars, more pollution
📊 Key Statistics to Remember:
• HK population: ~7.5 million (2020)
• HK area: 1,106 km²
• Public housing wait: 5.6 years (2020)
• Average housing price: HK$17,035/sq ft (HK Island, 2019)
• 40% of land = protected/country parks
📝 Study Tips:
1. Memorize examples for each land use/residential type
2. Understand causes → effects for urban problems
3. Practice grid references on maps
4. Compare characteristics (urban vs rural, high vs low income)
5. Link topics - e.g., poor planning → mixed use → land use conflict → pollution
🔑 Important Vocabulary:
• Grid reference, conventional sign, latitude/longitude
• Urban decay, land use conflict, mixed land use
• Population density, overcrowding, relief
• Subdivided flat, high-order service, CBD