The Dilemma of Urban Natural Conservation Planning: The Case of Sha Lo Tung, Hong Kong

Abstract

In the context of ecological civilization, urban natural conservation and ecological planning have become an important part of urban planning. However, due to land scarcity, there exists a severe conflict between urban development and natural conservation, which involves different appeals among different stakeholders. Therefore, spatial regulation for urban ecological conservation is not only a matter of technical planning, but a complex planning decision embedded in the local institutional framework and economic, social, and cultural context. Sha Lo Tung, located in New Territory region of Hong Kong, has been faced with dilemmas of planning making between development and conservation over the past thirty years. Taking it as a case, this study analyzes the three planning decisions regarding its development and conservation through an analytical framework focusing on “efficiency”, “equity”, “effectiveness” and “legitimacy”, based on the natural conservation policy, planning, and rules and laws in Hong Kong. It aims to gain a deep understanding of the dilemmas of urban natural conservation, through the examination of the institutionally constructed interests and conflicts of different stakeholders as well as the complexity of environmental related planning decision making.