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The spatial pattern of premature mortality in Hong Kong: How does it relate to public housing?

Author

Listed:
  • Jens Kandt

    (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK; University College London, UK)

  • Shu-Sen Chang

    (National Taiwan University, Taiwan)

  • Paul Yip

    (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Ricky Burdett

    (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK)

Abstract

Research into understanding the relationship between access to housing, health and wellbeing in cities has yielded mixed evidence to date and has been limited to case studies from Western countries. Many studies appear to highlight the negative effects of public housing in influencing the health of its residents. Current trends in the urban housing markets in cities of advanced Asian economies and debates surrounding the role of government in providing housing underscore the need for more focused research into housing and health. In this paper, we investigate Hong Kong as an example of a thriving Asian city by exploring and comparing the intra-urban geographies of premature mortality and public housing provision in the city. Using a fully Bayesian spatial structural model, we estimate associations between public housing provision and different types of premature mortality. We find significant geographic variations in premature mortality within Hong Kong during the five-year period 2005–2009, with positive associations between the residents of public housing and premature mortality risk. But the associations attenuate or are even reversed for premature mortality of injuries and non-communicable diseases after controlling for local deprivation, housing instability, access to local amenities and other neighbourhood characteristics. The results indicate that public housing may have a protective effect on community health, which contradicts the findings of similar studies carried out in Western cities. We suggest reasons why the association between public housing and health differs in Hong Kong and discuss the implications for housing policy in Hong Kong and other Asian cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Kandt & Shu-Sen Chang & Paul Yip & Ricky Burdett, 2017. "The spatial pattern of premature mortality in Hong Kong: How does it relate to public housing?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(5), pages 1211-1234, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:54:y:2017:i:5:p:1211-1234
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098015620341
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chia-Yueh Hsu & Shu-Sen Chang & Paul Yip, 2017. "Individual-, household- and neighbourhood-level characteristics associated with life satisfaction: A multilevel analysis of a population-based sample from Hong Kong," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(16), pages 3700-3717, December.
    2. Zhe Huang & Emily Ying-Yang Chan & Chi-Shing Wong & Sida Liu & Benny Chung-Ying Zee, 2022. "Health Disparity Resulting from the Effect of Built Environment on Temperature-Related Mortality in a Subtropical Urban Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Zhe Huang & Emily Ying Yang Chan & Chi Shing Wong & Benny Chung Ying Zee, 2021. "Clustering of Socioeconomic Data in Hong Kong for Planning Better Community Health Protection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-21, November.

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