49

Getting to know our Central Business

District!

The photographs below were taken in Central District.

(a) (b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 7.1

11111 What is the major type of economic activity there?

22222 Why is there a concentration of such types of activities?

*3*3*3*3*3 Can you think of the other characteristics of thisdistrict? (Hints: think about the transport, land rent andthe height of buildings)

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Part two

KEYCommercial

Institutional

Open space

Other landuses

45

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51

Our Central Business District (CBD)Our Central Business District (CBD)

Central District is part of the Central Business District ofHong Kong. Offices, banks, hotels and shops are commonin this district (Figure 7.2). In the office buildings, there aremany trading firms, financial institutions and professionalssuch as lawyers and doctors. Most shops sell expensivegoods, for example, brand name clothes and jewellery.

Plan No. S/H4/11 1:5 000

Figure 7.2 Land use map of Central District

Exchange Square

Office buildings in Central District

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Chapter 7

Where is our CBD?Activity

Figure 7.3

Refer to Figure 7.3. Answer the following questions.

What are the other characteristics of ourCBD?

• High accessibility

The CBD is the most accessible part of ourcity. Different means of transport areavailable such as the Mass Transit Railway(MTR), buses, ferries and trams, linking allparts of Hong Kong (Figure 7.4). People findit very convenient to go to the CBD, so thereare a lot of people and heavy traffic duringthe day.

Figure 7.4 Differentmeans of transport in

Central District

(b) Ferries

11111 Besides Central District, which districts are also included in our CBD? Mark their nameson Figure 7.3.

22222 Describe the location of our CBD.

(a) MTR

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Part two

Look at the following photographs (Figure 7.5).

(a) During the day(b) At night

Figure 7.5

What are the differences?Activity

What are the differences at different times of a day in the CBD? Do you know why?

• High land rent

Land rent is the highest in the CBD. The average monthlyrent of offices in Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui ishigher than that in other districts (Figure 7.6).

Figure 7.6 Average monthly rent of offices in selected districts in 2000

Source: Hong Kong Annual Digest of Statistics 2001

Can you think of any problemswith doing business in theCBD?

Think about

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Chapter 7

Why are there so many business firms inthe CBD?Why are there so many business firms inthe CBD?

1 Do you know the names of the CBDs of other famous cities in the world?

2 What are their common characteristics? Are they similar to Hong Kong’s CBD?

• Presence of many tallbuildings

Our CBD is characterised by many tallbuildings such as the Bank of China Towerand the Hong Kong Bank Building (Figure7.7).

Figure 7.7 There are manytall buildings in the CBD

• A very convenient location

Accessibility is very important to most commercialactivities. Being in the CBD, the most convenientlocation, helps business firms have close contact withtheir clients and business partners. This can increasetheir efficiency and so bring them more profits.

• A prestigious reputation

You can find many important buildings in the CBD.For example, the headquarters of the HKSARgovernment, the Legislative Council Building (Figure7.8) and some consulates are all located in CentralDistrict. Being located in the CBD is also a matter ofprestige. For this reason, many large business firmstend to concentrate there.

(a) Headquarters of the HKSARgovernment in Central District

(b) Legislative Council Building in Central District

Figure 7.8

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Part two

The CBD provides advantages that many residents, factory owners and businessmen desire.However, available land is limited. Competition over the use of land is inevitable. Who ismost likely to win out?

I can save on transportcosts for going to work andfor shopping trips.

A resident

The convenient locationenables me to transportmy products easily.

High accessibility is important to mybusiness. I have to keep close contactwith my clients and other firms. Also,my business firm can gain a betterreputation.

A businessman

Figure 7.9

Study Figure 7.9 carefully.

11111 Why is the CBD attractive to different types of people?

22222 Can everyone use the land of the CBD? Why or why not?

33333 Do you know who would be the likely winner? Explain your answer.

Who will be the land user?Activity

A factory owner

• Some potential land users cannot afford the high land rents

For residents, living in the CBD can savemuch on transport costs for work andshopping trips. For factory owners, it isconvenient to transport products because ofthe highest accessibility. For businessmen,high accessibility and reputation areimportant considerations in locating their

firms. However, land is limited and the landrent is very high in the CBD, so onlycommercial activities can and will pay suchhigh land rent. That is why many commercialbuildings are found in the CBD, but notresidential buildings and factories.

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Chapter 7

Key wordsCentral Business District (�� !") land rent (��)

accessibility (�� ) *reclamation (�� )

Key points1 Central District is part of the CBD of Hong Kong. Offices, banks, hotels and shops are

common in this district.

2 The CBD is the most accessible part of our city. Different means of transport are available.

3 Land rent is the highest in the CBD.

4 The CBD is characterised by many tall buildings.

5 A very convenient location, a prestigious reputation and high land rents explain why somany business firms are located in the CBD.

*6 Government policy is also a factor contributing to the concentration of business firms inthe CBD.

Government policy

Government policy is also a factor contributingto the concentration of business firms in theCBD. In the past, the British started developingthe city around Victoria Harbour because of thepresence of the deep and sheltered harbour whichwas favourable for trade. Gradually, more andmore commercial activities developed, and thisarea evolved into our CBD.

On the other hand, the government hasundertaken reclamation projects around theharbour, such as the Central and Wan Chaireclamations (Figure 7.10). The reclaimed landprovides much space in the CBD for commercialactivities. This also explains why so manybusiness firms are found in the CBD.

Figure 7.10 Reclamation in Hong Kong

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