The impacts of public transportation development on gentrification and poverty in Hong Kong neighbourhoods (2006–2021)

Abstract

This study examines gentrification situation and changes in the number of poor households in Hong Kong from 2006 to 2021 with data from three census time points. It examines key neighbourhood characteristics and the impacts of recent public transportation development, focusing on both lower-income neighbourhoods and the whole territory. The findings reveal that lower-income Tertiary Planning Units (TPUs) with lower tenant proportions and new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations were more vulnerable to gentrification. There was a negative correlation between household income and the likelihood of losing poor households.

At the territory level, the impact of new MTR stations on gentrification was less significant, indicating greater resilience of the households. Additionally, TPUs with larger proportions of older adults had higher likelihood to experience a loss of poor households. Using difference-in-differences (DiD) approach, improved accessibility from MTR extensions is found to be positively correlated with changes in the proportions of poor households in the TPUs. The results provide valuable insights for designing targeted social welfare, housing and community policies.