Urban Regeneration and Heritage Preservation with Public Participation: The Case of the Kai Tak Runway in Hong Kong

This paper discusses the preservation of heritage in Hong Kong using the case study of the redevelopment of Kai Tak Airport and Runway 13. Kai Tak Airport was closed in 1998, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority launched a series of consultations to give the community the opportunity to participate in the redevelopment of the area. This paper discusses the process of consultation organized by the URA, the proposals advanced by different interest groups, and ultimately the difficulties in bringing together stakeholders with opposing interests, especially with such a contentious issue as a waterfront regeneration project in a highly congested area like the Kowloon area in Hong Kong.