Abstract
Based on the results from the preceding chapters, the section identifies several major policies in Singapore and Hong Kong and compares their impacts on the affordability and commuting of low-income workers. The self-organization model is adopted to explain the commuting and urban changes produced by interactions between policies and individual actions. These policies include land acquisition, land value capture, high land prices, public housing, the CPF system, and the suburbanization of poverty. All the abovementioned policies have contributed to causing income inequality, unaffordability, and wage stagnation that result in accessibility constraints and social segregation. In the self-organization model, fair governance and social justice theories are introduced to evaluate unjust policies. Implementing fair governance is the motivation for decision-makers within the two cities to amend the unjust policies as a way in which to improve the commuting of poor workers.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Asher, M. G., & Nandy, A. (2008). Singapore’s policy responses to ageing, inequality, and poverty: An assessment. International Social Security Review, 61(1), 41–60.
Barucca, P. (2021). A fair governance: On inequality, power and democracy. Topoi, 40, 765–770.
Blandeau, G., & Aveline-Dubach, N. (2019). The political economy of transit value capture: The changing business model of the MTRC in Hong Kong. Urban Studies, 56(16), 3415–3431.
Castells, M., Goh, L., & Kwok, R.Y.W. (1990). The Shek Kip Mei syndrome: Economic development and public housing in Hong Kong and Singapore. Pion Limited.
Central Provident Fund Board. (2022). Your CPF contributions and allocation rates, Singapore government. Date: 26th January 2022, website: CPFB | Your CPF contributions and allocation rates
Centre for Liveable Cities. (2021a). Government land sales programme: Turning plans into reality. Republic of Singapore.
Centre for Liveable Cities. (2021b). Transport: overcoming constraints, sustaining mobility. Republic of Singapore.
Cervero, R. (1996). Jobs-housing balance revisited. Journal of American Planning Association, 62(4), 492–511.
Cervero, R., & Murakami, J. (2009). Rail and property development in Hong Kong: Experiences and extensions. Urban Studies, 46(10), 2019–2043.
Chang, Z., & Phang, S. Y. (2017). Urban rail transit PPPs: Lessons from East Asian cities. Transportation Research A, 105, 106–122.
CNBC News. (2022). China’s Xi says Hong Kong is moving ‘from chaos to governance, JUNE 30.
Diao, M., Fan, Y., & Sing, T. F. (2017). A new mass rapid transit (MRT) line construction and housing wealth: Evidence from the circle line. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 1(1), 64–89.
Giddens, A. (1984). The constitution of society. Polity Press.
Ho. P. S. W. (1996). A Ricardian interpretation of the provision of public housing services in Hong Kong. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 207–225.
Ho, K. W., & Tan, M. K. T. (2020). Challenge to social mobility in Singapore. Singapore Management University.
Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. (2017a). 2016 Population by-census: Main results. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. (2017b). 2016 Population by-census: District profiles. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Housing Authority. (2022a). What are the eligibility criteria for the application for public rental housing? Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Housing Authority. (2022b). Publications and statistics. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Housing Bureau. (2023). Statistics on private housing supply in the primary market. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Legislative Council. (2003). LCQ8: Cessation of production and sale of HOS flats, October 8, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Legislative Council. (2022). Study on the artificial islands in the central waters, panel on development, LC Paper No. CB (930/2022 (01), Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Legislative Council Secretariat. (2021). Major sources of government revenue, ISSF04/20–21, Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Legislative Council Secretariat. (2022). Fact sheet: housing situation and housing supply in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Planning Department. (2022a). Land utilization in Hong Kong 2021. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Planning Department. (2022b). Planning concept of Sha Tin. Website: nt_st_en (pland.gov.hk). Accessed date: December 3, 2022.
Hong Kong SAR Government. (2021). Hong Kong poverty situation report for 2020. Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Transport Department. (2014). Travel characteristics survey 2011. Hong Kong Government.
Hong Kong Year Book. (2019). Chapter 3: Economy and Chapter 12: Housing. Hong Kong Government.
Hou, Y. T. (2019). Polycentric urban form and non-work travel in Singapore: A focus on seniors. Transportation Research Part D, 73, 245–275.
Lau, J. C. Y. (2010). The influence of suburbanization on the access to employment of workers in the new towns: A case study of Tin Shui Wai. Hong Kong, Habitat International, 34(1), 38–45.
Lau, J. C. Y. (2011). Spatial mismatch and the affordability of public transport for the poor in Singapore’s new towns. Cities, 28(3), 230–237.
Lee, J. (2018). Asset building and property owning democracy: Singapore Housing Policy as a model of social investment and social justice. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 45, 105–126.
Lee, K. Y. (2000). From third world to first: The Singapore story: 1985–2000. HarperCollins Publishers.
Liang, C., Hui, E. C. M., Yip, T. L., & Huang, Y. (2020). Private land use for public housing projects: The influence of a government announcement on housing markets in Hong Kong. Land Use Policy, 99, 105067.
Lim, P. Y., Tan, S. B., & Low, D. (2015). Saving the CPF: Restoring public trust in Singapore’s retirement savings system. Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Malone-Lee, L. C., Sim, L. L., & Chin, L. (2001). Planning for a more balanced home-work relationship: The case study of Singapore. Cities, 18(1), 51–55.
Miles, M. R. (2015). Turnout as consent: How fair governance encourages voter participation. Political Research Quarterly, 68(2), 363–376.
Moody’s Analytics. (2022). United states income: Disposable personal income. Access date: January 30, 2022. Website: United States Income: Disposable personal income | Moody's Analytics (economy.com).
Murakami, J. (2018). The Government land sales programme and developers’ willingness to pay for accessibility in Singapore, 1990–2015. Land Use Policy, 75, 292–302.
Ng, K. T. (1989). New town development as a centralization strategy: Their impact on Hong Kong [Master Thesis]. University of Manitoba, Canada.
Pereira, R. H. M., Schwanen, T., & Banister, D. (2017). Distributive justice and equity in transportation. Transport Reviews, 37(2), 170–219.
Phang, S. Y. (2000). Hong Kong and Singapore. American Journal of Economics and Sociology., 59(5), 337–352.
Phang, S. Y. (2004). House prices and aggregate consumption: Do they move together? Evidence from Singapore. Journal of Housing Economics, 13, 101–119.
Phang, S. Y. (2007). The Singapore model of housing and the welfare state, Chapter 2. Housing and the new welfare state: Perspectives from East Asia and Europe (pp. 15–44). Singapore Management University.
Phang, S. Y., & Helble, M. (2016). Housing policies in Singapore, 1–27. Singapore Management University.
Poon, A. (2011). Hong Kong’s land policy: A recipe for social trouble. Website: https://carnegieendowment.org/hkjournal/PDF/2011_spring/3.pdf. Access date: October 22, 2020.
Portugali, J. (2000). Self-organization and the city. Springer-Verlag.
Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Oxford University Press.
Sampson, R. J. (2019). Neighbourhood effects and beyond: Explaining the paradoxes of inequality in the changing American metropolis. Urban Studies, 56(1), 3–32.
Sen, A. (1981). Poverty and famines: An essay on entitlement and deprivation. Clarendon Press.
Sen, A. (1985). Commodities and capabilities. North Holland.
Singapore Department of Statistics. (2010). Census of population 2010: Statistical release 3: Geographic distribution and transport. Singapore Government.
Singapore Department of Statistics. (2021). Singapore census of population 2020, statistical release 1, 2, and 3. Republic of Singapore.
Singapore Government. (2023). Do I really own my HDB flat? Website: gov.sg | Do I really own my HDB flat (www.gov.sg). Accessed on February 13, 2023.
Singapore Ministry of Finance. (2022). The revenue and expenditure estimates for the financial year 2022–2023: Total estimate receipts for FY2022 by object class, item M10. Republic of Singapore.
Singapore Ministry of Manpower. (2022). Labour force in Singapore advance release 2022. Singapore Government.
Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1991). Living the next lap: Towards a tropical city of excellence. The Republic of Singapore.
Standard. (2021). Half of the young adults say it is “delusional” to think they can own a flat, 17th October, Hong Kong.
Standard. (2023). Debate warms up over public housing at Kai Tak, January 30th, Hong Kong.
Statista. (2023). Public expenditure on housing in Hong Kong from 2011/12 to 2021/22, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Straits Times. (2019). Singapore and Hong Kong: A tale of two cities, 14th September, Singapore.
Wong, F. W. H., Chan, E. H. W., & Yu, A. T. W. (2011). Property developers’ major cost concerns arising from planning regulations under a high land-price policy. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 137(2), 112–120.
Wong, T. C. (2006). Revitalising Singapore’s central city through gentrification: The role of waterfront housing. Urban Policy and Research, 24(2), 181–199.
Yau, Y., & Cheung, T. C. (2021). Revisiting the concept of the property state: Private landowners and suburban development in Hong Kong. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 80(2), 427–464.
Zhang, S. H., & De Roo, G. (2016). Interdependency of self-organisation and planning: evidence from Nanluoguxiang, Beijing. The Town Planning Review 87(3), 253–274.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cho-Yam Lau, J. (2023). Comparing Policies Between Hong Kong and Singapore with a Focus on the Commuting of the Poor. In: Self-Organization and Mobility Deprivation of Poor Workers in Hong Kong and Singapore. Quality of Life in Asia, vol 18. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7265-4_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7265-4_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-7264-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-7265-4
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)