Encountering Development in the Age of Global Capitalism

Encountering Development in the Age of Global Capitalism

Kin-Ling Tang Encountering Development in the Age of Global Capitalism A Case Study

Kin-Ling Tang The Education University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China ISBN 978-981-10-5118-0 DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-5120-3 ISBN 978-981-10-5120-3 (ebook) Library of Congress Control Number: 2017943327 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore

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vi List of Proper Names in English and Their Chinese Original Map of Hong Kong (Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board)

Contents 1 Introduction... 1 Mui Wo, Hong Kong and Globalisation... 1 Globalisation and Power Relations... 4 Finance Capitalism: Immateriality and Speed... 6 Encountering Development in the Age of Global Capitalism... 9 Mui Wo and Alternative Development... 12 References... 17 2 Two Tales of a City... 19 Mui Wo, Lantau Island, 2013... 19 The Metropolis... 22 Mui Wo from 1997 to 2013: A Unique Time and Space... 25 To Cry, or Not to Cry? Opening of Tsing Ma Bridge... 27 References... 39 3 Techniques of Going Slow: Cycling in Mui Wo... 41 Cycling and Development... 43 Bicycle Technology... 46 Going Slow... 50 Techniques... 55 Cycling in Mui Wo... 61 Body Techniques... 64 The Machine... 65 Time-Space Compression... 67 Non-linearity of Progress... 68 Time-Space Decompression?... 70 Sensory Experiences... 72 Human Power... 77 References... 78 vii

viii Contents 4 Taking Care of Our Own Waste... 81 Dirt as Matter of Out of Place... 81 Stereotype... 84 Development and Globalisation... 86 Scenery Please, but Not the Smell... 89 Septic Tank... 90 Waste as Creative... 94 Surely, the State Is the Sewer... 106 References... 109 5 All Roads Lead to Development or How Small Paths Lead Us Home... 111 The Road... 111 The Road to Development... 117 From Wider Roads to More Expensive Housing... 121 More Houses, People and Money... 124 When the Government Intervenes... 126 Government, Government, Government... 129 Small Paths Lead Us Home... 134 Lived Time... 139 Marginal as Radical... 143 References... 145 6 Whose Development? Transnational Capitalism and the Homogenisation of Space... 147 A Facelift Plan... 147 User Responsibilities... 154 Mui Wo in the Metropolis... 157 Alive or Dead? When Capital Penetrates the Land... 162 References... 164 7 Conclusion: The Landscape... 165 Capital and Its Discontents... 165 Depression... 168 The Dog Killer Speaks... 170 Reference... 171