Socio-spatial polarization and the (re-)distribution of deprived groups in world cities: A case study of Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

This paper draws on theoretical discussions of world cities to analyze socio-spatial polarization and (re-)distribution of deprived groups in Hong Kong in the 2000s. Intensifying global economic restructuring processes have induced socio-economic polarization, thereby producing deprived groups although the spatial outcomes may depend on the city-specific context. When local policies do not counteract the polarization trend, a spatial manifestation of widening socio-economic gaps can be expected. Intensified pro-growth policies adopted since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule in 1997 and during its economic recession in the early 2000s have worsened the impact of globalization-induced socio-economic and spatial restructuring. Census data from 2001 and 2011 show increasingly differentiated socio-economic profiles at the district level. The analysis offered in this study also points to a decreased socially mixed society in 2011 when the deprived groups lived in districts with less presence of the advantaged population.

KEYWORDS:

• World city
• socio-spatial polarization
• deprived group
• Hong Kong

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank editor Prof. Kevin George Ward for the insightful suggestions and the anonymous referees for their constructive comments. The usual disclaimers apply.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [General Research Fund CUHK14408314], Joint Research Centre for Positive Social Science, CUHK and the CUHK University of Manchester Research Fund.