Inequality in Development Futures Tourism Economies and Construction Technology in Tai O, a Village Near Hong Kong Daniel Keith Elkin Dr
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UIA 2021 RIO: 27th World Congress of Architects Inequality in Development Futures Tourism Economies and Construction Technology in Tai O, a Village near Hong Kong Daniel Keith Elkin Dr. Wang Xiaolu, Norah The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr. Chi-Yuen Leung Dr. Wantanee Suntikul The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Abstract collective development action, and network-based prototyping methodologies. This paper concerns research conducted in Tai O Village, a stilt house settlement within the Hong Kong Special Introduction Administrative Region (HKSAR). Tai O is This paper concerns research conducted in Tai subject to tourism development planning O Village, a stilt house community on the Tai O by the Government of the HKSAR. River, within the Hong Kong Special Planning documents rely on Tai O’s Administrative Region (HKSAR). Situated on historic stilt house vernacular architecture the Western coast of Lantau Island, Tai O is to position Tai O Village as a cultural and subject to tourism development planning by the ecological tourism destination. In Government of the HKSAR, in particular the preparation, the Government began Civil Engineering and Development infrastructure development to better Department (CEDD), Lands Department (LD), and Tourism Commission. The CEDD-authored connect Tai O’s remote location to nearby Sustainable Lantau Blueprint (SLB) relies on transit centres. However, because of stilt Tai O’s historic stilt house vernacular houses’ status as “surveyed squatter architecture to position Tai O Village as an structures,” there is inequality in Village intensified cultural and ecological tourism residents’ ability to participate in tourism destination. In preparation for this role, the development. Stilt house owners and Government began a number of infrastructure residents may not renovate or improve development programs to better connect Tai O’s their homes at risk of removal. In spite of remote location to nearby transit centres Tung the centuries Tai O’s population lived in Chung, Mui Wo, and, Ngong Ping Village. stilt houses, residents face futures in which However, based on the stilt houses’ status as they are subject to development planning “surveyed squatter structures” under the 1982 strategy, yet less able to take advantage of Squatter Control Policy on Surveyed Squatter its benefits, and vulnerable to economic Structures (SCPS), there is inequality in Tai O and ecological threats it causes. This paper Village residents’ ability to participate in this examines two ongoing research themes in tourism development transition. Under this Tai O. First, the paper discusses Tourism policy, stilt house owners and residents may not and Fishing Economies in Tai O through renovate, improve, or enlarge stilt houses at the resident field interview responses. Second, risk of losing their “tolerated” status and this paper discusses progressions in subjecting their homes to Lands Department construction technology evident through clearance. In spite of the centuries of history Tai site survey in Tai O’s stilt house districts. O’s Tanka-descendant population have lived in stilt houses and near the shore, including central In conclusion, this paper frames research importance in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) responses anticipating future additional salt production monopoly, Tai O residents face research and design projects. These efforts complex future prospects in which they are connect to a spatial activist framework, subject to Governmental development planning with activist structure research support, strategy, yet unequal in their ability to take PAPERS: VOLUME I of III 55 UIA 2021 RIO: 27th World Congress of Architects advantage of development, and substantially vulnerable to economic and ecological threats. production until around the 1920’s, when This paper examines two themes related to continued British colonization and the Second ongoing field research in Tai O. First, the paper World War brought considerable social change. discusses the state of Tourism and Fishing Since then, Tai O Village residents are Economies in Tai O based on field interview increasingly dependent on tourism-related with stilt house residents and community revenue to support themselves. Three residents activists. Second, this paper discusses interviewed, themselves Tanka descendants, progressions and changes in construction stated that fishing as a means of primary income technology evident through site survey in Tai is no longer viable. Reasons for this change O’s stilt house districts. In conclusion, this paper given include, 1. Government construction of an discusses ongoing research response strategies artificial sea wall in the West Harbour of the within multiple Tai O resident constituencies, in village, complicating the mooring of large anticipation of research and design projects. The fishing boats; 2. A government restriction on 3 paper connects these efforts to a general spatial trawling, and; 3. Construction of the Hong activist framework, with activist structure Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and accompanying research support, collective development action, environmental disturbance. Residents and network-based prototyping methodologies. interviewed generally offered pragmatic responses to this change, and suggested that Tourism and Fishing Economy grievances they have with the economic change relate to their ability to participate in tourism Tai O Village’s memorable stilt house development and the effectiveness, as they see architecture, earning the Village the nickname it, of Government improvement projects to the “Venice of Hong Kong,”1 is intrinsically connect Tai O more directly with the rest of connected with the Tanka ethnic group that Hong Kong. founded the stilt house districts, and the fishing economy upon which they depended. Tai O’s Tourist and commuter transit to Tai O Village stilt house typology separates into three or four from Hong Kong’s central business district generations, dependent on division of the initial takes approximately two hours travel time by phase. The first and second phases of Tai O stilt ferry and bus via Mui Wo, train and bus via house development began as over-water Tung Chung, or cable car and bus via Ngong platforms for Tanka fishermen’s families to Ping Village. Private ferry service is available occupy during day-long or multi-day fishing from Tuen Mun, Tung Chung, and Sha Lo Wan. trips. These over-water platforms transitioned The Sustainable Lantau Blueprint (SLB) into round-topped stilt houses based upon encompasses most recent Government efforts to sampan-type boats, which are the oldest in Tai better connect the remote location and O Village, generally with a low ceiling height encourage tourism traffic and development. around three metres high and the smallest CEDD project expenditures total approximately occupied area. After this period, Tai O’s stilt HK$855 million for slope stabilization, road houses progressed through a pattern of low- improvement, and a recently-completed transit slope pitched roof, single or one-and-one-half plaza for bus, taxi, and private car arrivals to Tai 4 story dwellings with relatively small liveable O. Though a cable car extension project from 56 areas. Most recent developments in the Tai O Ngong Ping stalled, these investments and Tai stilt house type include two liveable storeys up O Village’s predominance in Government to the maximum allowed height of fifteen publications illustrate the Government’s meters, and larger floor plans when allowed by determination to increase Tai O’s tourism the Lands Department Squatter Control Office. development density. Many renovations and improvements upon the stilt house type visible in Tai O Village appeared Along with gathering basic household 7 after the year 2000 fire that destroyed a number accounting data, researchers surveyed and of stilt houses and prompted rebuilding interviewed Tai O residents on their intentions projects.2 Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong also to participate in tourism development. The conducted two rebuilding missions in Tai O project team sought survey responses reflecting Village. potential spatial changes for tourism development, including home expansion, Although stilt house construction and aesthetics renovation, alienation, new construction, or new have changed over time, Tai O’s economy and programming and land use. Along with social life remained connected to fishing and salt 56 PAPERS: VOLUME I of III UIA 2021 RIO: 27th World Congress of Architects significant enlargement of one stilt house into development strategy, but constrained in their the Triple Lanterns café through the 1980’s and ability to take advantage of its benefits, and ‘90’s, several residents indicated desire to manage its negative externalities. renovate, enlarge, or repurpose stilt houses for other uses and programs. These spatial use changes correlate well with increasing tourism Construction Technology development: renovations for small food or beverage vending, souvenir shops, or short-term The statutory constraint upon stilt house home stays in some cases. The viability of such residents in question is the Lands Department’s spatial programming and land uses changes is Squatter Control Policy on Surveyed Squatter evidently complex, given the success of the Structures (SCPS). This policy governs Triple Lanterns’ proprietors and a small number enforcement of un-regularized squatter of other residents in altering their stilt houses