Role Changes of Hong Kong in Providing Connectivity for China 1998–2018
Publication: Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 148, Issue 4
Abstract
Air connectivity is a crucial factor for economic development, especially for a free port city such as Hong Kong. This paper examines the role changes of Hong Kong in providing connectivity for the international market that originates from regional airports in Mainland China. The time-dependent earliest arrival time method is employed to assess its connectivity levels compared with other Chinese air gateways in 1998 and 2018, with measurement of three indicators: accessibility, dependency, and centrality. Empirical evidence demonstrates that extensive progress of accessibility and dependency has been presented in both Hong Kong and other Chinese gateways as for liberal arrangements after 2001, while foreign transfers are still an inescapable theme to strengthen air connections. In addition, Hong Kong retained its hub status even while deemed inferior to Beijing and Shanghai in the international market of Mainland China, especially for the Northeast and East Coastal region and air travel to Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. What is more, although Hong Kong benefited from its massive traffic generation, major air gateways would be dispersedly located across Mainland China with the rise of central China, geographical proximity effect, and differential market cultivation.
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Data Availability Statement
All data and codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Our appreciation goes to the managers and employees at airports in Hong Kong (HKG). We further express gratitude to experts in the CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration and Prof. Andrew R. Goetz for their assistance and advice in the administration of this study. This work was supported by the Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China [Grant Numbers 20YJCZH104] and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant Numbers 41901197].
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Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 148 • Issue 4 • December 2022
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Received: Sep 28, 2021
Accepted: Jul 29, 2022
Published online: Oct 10, 2022
Published in print: Dec 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Mar 10, 2023
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