Community democracy: Land policy academic sets his sights on one of Hong Kong’s district council seats

With the Leung Chun-ying administration’s massive housing development plans having caused much controversy at the community level during the current district council term, November’s local polls may serve as a battleground for candidates to expound on their own thinking on neighbourhood planning.

One of those who is flagging city development in their electoral platform is housing and land policy academic Dr Edward Yiu Chung-yim, who is vowing to “leave his ivory tower and conduct a natural experiment” of democracy in urban planning. He is challenging incumbent Dr Chu Ching-hong, a four-term veteran who is now chairman of Southern District Council. Both are independents.

Yiu, 51, an associate professor at Chinese University’s Institute of Future Studies, is throwing his hat in the ring in Chi Fu constituency in Pok Fu Lam, where he has been living for 15 years. Often appearing in the media as a columnist and commentator on housing issues, he also serves on the board of governors of Friends of the Earth.

Four years ago, he ran for election for the resident association in his housing estate, Chi Fu Fa Yuen, and became its secretary. As the convenor of its environmental committee, he has been working with residents and the estate’s management company to introduce green initiatives in the neighbourhood.

On the day of the interview, Yiu showed some of the estate’s green facilities that he has helped introduce. Among them is an aquaponics pond – an environmentally friendly system where fish are bred and plants are grown. Fish excreta are used as fertiliser. There are also solar panels, a stationary bicycle that generates power when an individual exercises on it while charging his or her mobile phone, and reading corners where families with children can exchange toys.

“Wherever there are people, there are conflicts. I do not underestimate the difficulties in encouraging residents to work together for a common goal to improve our community,” Yiu said.

To put academic theories of democratic planning into perspective, he said the keys were to start with something fun such as farming events to attract residents and thereby make them feel the benefits of participation. Chi Fu residents can accumulate points by participating in recycling and redeem vegetables grown on their community farm with the points they have earned.