City planning is a vital yet often overlooked aspect of our daily lives. Few people pause to consider its importance, as they may take well-designed urban infrastructure for granted, despite the common saying that "Rome wasn’t built in a day." Every day, we benefit from the roads we drive on, the public transport we use, and the parks we visit—all outcomes of thoughtful city planning. Recognizing this, the second author of this article was delighted to share insights with master’s degree students in Housing Policy and Management at Lingnan University. In a particularly engaging lecture, we discussed about the city planning strategies and legislation of three globally significant cities: Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Sydney. Despite their striking differences in geography, culture, and history, these cities share fascinating parallels in how they tackle urban challenges. Strategic city planning in Sydney has increasingly acknowledged the importance of health, yet it remains narrowly focused on health precincts and infrastructure, rather than embedding health promotion as a core driver of urban development (Harris et al., 2020). Whether it’s creating towering skylines or managing sprawling suburbs, each city leverages its unique strengths and resources to enhance liveability, sustainability, and connectivity. Today, the role of emerging technologies, particularly in the realm of information technology (IT), has become increasingly central. These innovations are transforming how cities are planned, managed, and experienced, paving the way for smarter and more resilient urban futures.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Sydney share some surprising commonalities, including the integration of recreational venues like horse racing tracks into their urban landscapes. Hong Kong’s Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses, Sydney’s Randwick and Rosehill tracks, and Shanghai’s historical racecourses reflect how cities can blend tradition, recreation, and urban innovation. But beyond these similarities lies the unique character of each city’s planning strategies.

The Vertical City: Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a city of vertical density, driven by its extreme land scarcity and a population of over 7.5 million tightly packed into just nearly 30% of its 1,100 square kilometres. The city’s skyline is a testament to its ingenuity in maximizing limited space, with skyscrapers housing residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. At the heart of Hong Kong’s urban planning is transit-oriented development (TOD), anchored by the highly efficient Mass Transit Railway (MTR). IT plays a pivotal role in optimizing the MTR’s operations, using real-time data to streamline passenger flow, reduce congestion, and enhance scheduling accuracy.

Land reclamation has also played a significant role in expanding Hong Kong’s urban footprint, with key areas like Central and Tsim Sha Tsui built on reclaimed land. However, housing affordability remains a critical issue. About 45% of the population living in public or subsidized housing, property prices are among the highest in the world, and living spaces are often cramped.

Even recreational spaces like the Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses demonstrate Hong Kong’s innovative use of limited land. These venues serve not only as centres for world-class horse racing but also as multifunctional community hubs, incorporating IT to manage crowd flow, ticketing, and event logistics.

Shanghai: Balancing Tradition and Modernity

Shanghai, as China’s financial hub, presents a striking contrast to Hong Kong. Spanning 6,340 square kilometres, Shanghai has the space to adopt a polycentric urban model, promoting multiple centres of activity to ease congestion in its historic core. The city’s planning reflects a delicate balance between preserving its cultural heritage and embracing rapid modernization. The Bund and the French Concession preserve the city’s architectural and historical legacy, while Pudong’s futuristic skyline, featuring landmarks like the Shanghai Tower, showcases Shanghai’s global ambitions.

IT is a cornerstone of Shanghai’s city planning efforts. The city operates the world’s largest metro system, using real-time analytics to optimize routes, predict passenger demand, and integrate public transport with other modes of travel such as cycling. The Internet of Things (IoT) enhances urban management by monitoring traffic, air quality, and energy consumption, particularly in eco-city projects like LinGang. These initiatives aim to redefine sustainable urban living by incorporating green architecture, renewable energy, and circular resource systems.

While Shanghai no longer emphasizes horse racing as part of its urban identity, its equestrian facilities, such as the Shanghai Equestrian Sports Park, reflect a shift toward multipurpose recreational spaces that blend elite sports with community usage. Challenges such as air pollution and urban sprawl remain significant, but Shanghai’s innovative use of IT continues to drive its evolution as a smart city.

Sydney: A City of Space and Sustainability

Sydney, Australia’s largest city, has another approach to urban planning. Spread across 12,300 square kilometres, its low-density suburbs and iconic green spaces define its urban character. The city prioritizes liveability and sustainability, with vast parks like Centennial Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens providing residents with ample opportunities for recreation. Sydney’s proximity to beaches further enhances its appeal, creating a unique blend of urban and natural environments.

However, Sydney’s sprawling layout presents challenges such as car dependency and traffic congestion. To address these issues, the city has embraced transit-oriented development, as seen in projects like Green Square. These developments combine high-density housing with efficient public transport systems, supported by IT-driven tools that analyse commuter behaviour and optimize transit routes. Smart traffic management systems and AI-powered infrastructure are also being deployed to reduce congestion and improve the overall efficiency of urban mobility.

Sydney’s horse racing venues, such as Randwick and Rosehill, are deeply integrated into the city’s cultural fabric. These spaces not only host major events but also serve as community hubs, benefiting from IT solutions for crowd management, digital ticketing, and enhanced visitor experiences.

Comparing the Three Cities

When comparing Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Sydney, their approaches to city planning reveal both similarities and striking differences. IT emerges as a common factor in addressing shared challenges such as housing affordability, transportation efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Technology as the Future of City Planning

The integration of IT into urban planning is transforming cities worldwide, and Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Sydney are no exception. In Hong Kong, IT optimizes transit systems and maximizes efficiency in a space-constrained environment. Shanghai leverages IoT and smart city technologies to manage its rapid growth and sustainability goals. Sydney uses AI and data-driven tools to address urban sprawl and enhance liveability.

Even recreational spaces, such as horse racing venues, demonstrate how IT can enrich city life. From digital ticketing and crowd management to real-time monitoring of visitor experiences, technology enables these cities to create more functional and inclusive urban environments.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Sydney offer valuable lessons in city planning. While each city’s approach reflects its unique circumstances, their shared reliance on IT highlights the transformative potential of technology in shaping a sustainable and urban future. By embracing these innovations, cities around the world can address the challenges of the 21st century and create vibrant, resilient communities for generations to come.

By Dr. Bankee Kwan

Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Permanent Honorary President and Past President of Federation of Hong Kong-Shanghai Associations

Dr. Philip Wong

Member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS)

Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (FCIHT)

The views do not necessarily reflect those of Orange News.

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