https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/urban-history\/article\/catchwater-colonialism-reshaping-hong-kongs-hydrology-infrastructure-metabolism-and-landscape-19371968\/003CBE66A536F8B616DA5C172C213E85<\/a><\/p>\n\nAbstract<\/p>\n\n
This article explores the development of hydrological infrastructure in colonial Hong Kong between the late 1930s and the late 1960s. Utilizing archival sources in Hong Kong and London, it shows how this infrastructure fundamentally reshaped Hong Kong\u2019s geography. By way of concrete catchwaters and metal pipes, both \u2018green\u2019 and \u2018urban\u2019 Hong Kong became counter-intuitively interconnected.<\/p>\n\n
This interconnection created both unintended consequences and novel opportunities for colonial governance, driving forward natural conservation, state intervention into rural society and the development of new carceral institutions. Exploring these developments provides pivotal insight into the urban history of Hong Kong, with implications for global studies of historical urban political ecology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Author: Jack Greatrex and Florence Mok Source: Urban History Link: https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/urban-history\/article\/catchwater-colonialism-reshaping-hong-kongs-hydrology-infrastructure-metabolism-and-landscape-19371968\/003CBE66A536F8B616DA5C172C213E85<\/a> Abstract This article explores the development of hydrological infrastructure in colonial Hong Kong between the late 1930s and the late 1960s. Utilizing archival sources in Hong Kong and London, it shows how this infrastructure fundamentally reshaped Hong Kong\u2019s geography. By way of concrete catchwaters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":145170531,"featured_media":6534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[776957933],"tags":[776958147,776958251,776958250,776958076,776958128],"class_list":["post-7590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category--en","tag-colonialism","tag-hydrology","tag-infrastructure-2","tag-newsroom","tag-urban-studies"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pai6UY-1Yq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7587,"url":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/2026\/01\/21\/%e3%80%90%e8%ab%96%e6%96%87%e3%80%91%e5%bc%95%e6%b0%b4%e9%81%93%e6%ae%96%e6%b0%91%e4%b8%bb%e7%be%a9%ef%bc%9a%e9%87%8d%e5%a1%91%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e7%9a%84%e6%b0%b4%e6%96%87%e3%80%81%e6%b0%b4%e5%88%a9\/","url_meta":{"origin":7590,"position":0},"title":"\u3010\u8ad6\u6587\u3011\u5f15\u6c34\u9053\u6b96\u6c11\u4e3b\u7fa9\uff1a\u91cd\u5851\u9999\u6e2f\u7684\u6c34\u6587\u3001\u6c34\u5229\u57fa\u5efa\u3001\u4ee3\u8b1d\u8207\u5730\u666f\uff081937\u20131968\uff09","author":"\u624b\u6c11\u51fa\u7248\u793e","date":"21\/01\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u4f5c\u8005\uff1aJack Greatrex and Florence Mok \u51fa\u8655\uff1aUrban History \u8cc7\u6599\u4f86\u6e90\uff1ahttps:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/urban-history\/article\/catchwater-colonialism-reshaping-hong-kongs-hydrology-infrastructure-metabolism-and-landscape-19371968\/003CBE66A536F8B616DA5C172C213E85 \u6458\u8981 \u672c\u6587\u63a2\u8a0e\u6b96\u6c11\u6642\u671f\u9999\u6e2f\u65bc1930\u5e74\u4ee3\u672b\u81f31960\u5e74\u4ee3\u672b\u4e4b\u9593\u6c34\u6587\u57fa\u5efa\u7684\u767c\u5c55\u3002\u904b\u7528\u9999\u6e2f\u8207\u502b\u6566\u7684\u6a94\u6848\u8cc7\u6599\uff0c\u6587\u7ae0\u6307\u51fa\uff0c\u9019\u4e9b\u57fa\u5efa\u5f9e\u6839\u672c\u4e0a\u91cd\u5851\u4e86\u9999\u6e2f\u7684\u5730\u7406\u6a23\u8c8c\u3002\u85c9\u7531\u6df7\u51dd\u571f\u5f15\u6c34\u9053\u8207\u91d1\u5c6c\u7ba1\u9053\uff0c\u300c\u7da0\u8272\u300d\u7684\u9999\u6e2f\u8207\u300c\u90fd\u5e02\u300d\u7684\u9999\u6e2f\u53cd\u76f4\u89ba\u5730\u88ab\u7dca\u5bc6\u9023\u7d50\u8d77\u4f86\u3002 \u9019\u7a2e\u9023\u7d50\u7522\u751f\u975e\u9810\u671f\u5f8c\u679c\u4e4b\u9918\uff0c\u4ea6\u70ba\u6b96\u6c11\u6cbb\u7406\u958b\u555f\u4e86\u65b0\u53ef\u80fd\uff0c\u9032\u800c\u63a8\u52d5\u4e86\u81ea\u7136\u4fdd\u80b2\u548c\u570b\u5bb6\u4ecb\u5165\u9109\u6751\u793e\u6703\uff0c\u767c\u5c55\u51fa\u65b0\u578b\u61f2\u6559\uff08carceral\uff09\u5236\u5ea6\u3002\u63a2\u7a76\u9019\u4e9b\u6b77\u7a0b\uff0c\u70ba\u7406\u89e3\u9999\u6e2f\u7684\u90fd\u5e02\u53f2\u63d0\u4f9b\u95dc\u9375\u8996\u89d2\uff0c\u4e26\u5c0d\u5168\u7403\u5c31\u6b77\u53f2\u90fd\u5e02\u653f\u6cbb\u751f\u614b\u7684\u7814\u7a76\u5177\u6709\u91cd\u8981\u555f\u793a\u3002","rel":"","context":"In "\u9999\u6e2f\u5b78\u8853\u60c5\u5831\u5ba4"","block_context":{"text":"\u9999\u6e2f\u5b78\u8853\u60c5\u5831\u5ba4","link":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/category\/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%ad%b8%e8%a1%93%e6%83%85%e5%a0%b1%e5%ae%a4\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7342,"url":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/2025\/11\/12\/article-east-by-southeast-hong-kong-in-the-decolonising-pacific\/","url_meta":{"origin":7590,"position":1},"title":"[Article] East by Southeast: Hong Kong in the Decolonising Pacific","author":"\u624b\u6c11\u51fa\u7248\u793e","date":"12\/11\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Author: Wesley Attewell Source: Antipode: A Radical Journal of Geography Link: https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/anti.70043 Abstract This essay seeks to complicate Hong Kong's seemingly common-sensical geographical identity as an East Asian\u2014specifically, Chinese\u2014metropolis through a contrapuntal mapping of its historical connections with Southeast Asia. It takes seriously the role that this supposedly hinterland region\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hong Kong Studies Newsroom"","block_context":{"text":"Hong Kong Studies Newsroom","link":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/category\/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%ad%b8%e8%a1%93%e6%83%85%e5%a0%b1%e5%ae%a4-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8295,"url":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/2026\/06\/30\/article-basketball-courts-in-hong-kong-a-historic-and-socio-political-perspective-on-social-infrastructure-in-a-high-density-city\/","url_meta":{"origin":7590,"position":2},"title":"[Article] Basketball Courts in Hong Kong: A Historic and Socio-political Perspective on Social Infrastructure in a High-density City","author":"\u624b\u6c11\u51fa\u7248\u793e","date":"30\/06\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Author: Jeroen van Ameijde Source: Urbanie & Urbanus Link: https:\/\/www.uandujournal.com\/abstract.php?id=114 Abstract Basketball courts play a unique role in Hong Kong\u2019s high-density urban fabric, offering opportunities for sports and socialising in every neighbourhood within the territory. This study examines their historical roots and development in colonial Hong Kong, increasing socio-political significance,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hong Kong Studies Newsroom"","block_context":{"text":"Hong Kong Studies Newsroom","link":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/category\/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%ad%b8%e8%a1%93%e6%83%85%e5%a0%b1%e5%ae%a4-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3373,"url":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/2023\/01\/25\/%e3%80%90%e8%ac%9b%e5%ba%a7%e3%80%91%e5%bc%95%e6%b0%b4%e9%81%93%e6%ae%96%e6%b0%91%e4%b8%bb%e7%be%a9%ef%bc%9a%e9%87%8d%e5%a1%91%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e6%b0%b4%e6%96%87%e5%ad%b8%e3%80%81%e5%9f%ba%e5%bb%ba\/","url_meta":{"origin":7590,"position":3},"title":"\u3010\u8b1b\u5ea7\u3011\u5f15\u6c34\u9053\u6b96\u6c11\u4e3b\u7fa9\uff1a\u91cd\u5851\u9999\u6e2f\u6c34\u6587\u5b78\u3001\u57fa\u5efa\u53ca\u5730\u666f\uff0c1937\u81f31983","author":"\u624b\u6c11\u51fa\u7248\u793e","date":"25\/01\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u984c\u76ee\uff1aCatchwater Colonialism: Reshaping Hong Kong\u2019s Hydrology, Infrastructure, and Landscape, 1937 to 1983 \u65e5\u671f\uff1a2023\u5e742\u670816\u65e5\u6642\u9593\uff1a\u4e0b\u53484:30-6:00\u5730\u9ede\uff1a\u65b0\u52a0\u5761\u5357\u6d0b\u7406\u5de5\u5927\u5b78SHHK Conference Room Alumni, Current Students, Industry\/Academic Partners, Prospective Students, Public \u7c21\u4ecb 1930\u5e74\u4ee3\u672b\u81f31980\u5e74\u4ee3\u521d\uff0c\u9999\u6e2f\u767c\u5c55\u51fa\u4e00\u500b\u5ee3\u6cdb\u7684\u6c34\u5eab\u3001\u5f15\u6c34\u9053\u3001\u6c34\u7ba1\u548c\u62bd\u6c34\u7ad9\u7db2\u7d61\u3002\u7531\u65bc\u9999\u6e2f\u5730\u8cea\u4e0d\u5229\u6c34\u5229\uff0c\u540c\u6642\u793e\u6703\u7d93\u6fdf\u5c0d\u6c34\u9700\u8981\u8feb\u5207\uff0c\u4e0a\u8ff0\u7db2\u7d61\u5411\u9999\u6e2f\u8179\u5730\u5ef6\u4f38\uff0c\u65e2\u9060\u4e14\u6df1\u3002\u672c\u6587\u8a8d\u70ba\uff0c\u904e\u7a0b\u4e2d\uff0c\u57fa\u5efa\u7684\u5ef6\u4f38\u6539\u8b8a\u4e86\u9999\u6e2f\u7684\u57ce\u9109\u95dc\u4fc2\uff0c\u5c07\u8fb2\u6751\u8b8a\u6210\u57ce\u5e02\u5de5\u696d\u4e2d\u5fc3\u7684\u300c\u904b\u4f5c\u666f\u89c0\u300d\u3002\u540c\u6642\uff0c\u9019\u7a2e\u5f15\u6c34\u2014\u6c34\u5eab\u7684\u7d44\u5408\u6709\u52a9\u5f62\u5851\u6b96\u6c11\u5730\u7684\u76e3\u7344\u7cfb\u7d71\u548c\u4fdd\u80b2\u63aa\u65bd\uff0c\u4f7f\u6b96\u6c11\u5730\u5728\u6b96\u6c11\u665a\u671f\u6642\u8d70\u5411\u8207\u8fb2\u6751\u793e\u6703\u6df1\u5ea6\u63a5\u89f8\u3002\u5efa\u9020\u6c34\u5eab\u9700\u8981\u9077\u79fb\u56da\u72af\u3001\u690d\u6a39\u3001\u7ba1\u7406\u9999\u706b\uff0c\u4e26\u5c07\u6700\u504f\u9060\u7684\u5c71\u5761\u8207\u6700\u57ce\u5e02\u5316\u7684\u6838\u5fc3\u5730\u5e36\u9023\u63a5\u8d77\u4f86\u3002\u7814\u7a76\u9019\u4e9b\u904e\u7a0b\uff0c\u672c\u6587\u91cd\u65b0\u6aa2\u8996\u8fd1\u5e74\u751a\u53d7\u6ce8\u76ee\u7684\u9999\u6e2f\u6c34\u6b77\u53f2\u6587\u737b\uff0c\u4ee5\u53ca\u57ce\u5e02\u653f\u6cbb\u751f\u614b\u5b78\u7684\u66f4\u5ee3\u6cdb\u8a0e\u8ad6\u3002 \u8cc7\u6599\u4f86\u6e90\uff1ahttps:\/\/www.ntu.edu.sg\/soh\/news-events\/events\/detail\/2023\/02\/16\/research-events\/catchwater-colonialism-reshaping-hong-kong-s-hydrology-infrastructure-and-landscape-1937-to-1983?fbclid=IwAR1A0l8oNwBIjAnDzAPnZqvLIRPOu7eJLrzSDGVTLP4BF5CRvJsOf0j5v_w","rel":"","context":"In "\u9999\u6e2f\u5b78\u8853\u60c5\u5831\u5ba4"","block_context":{"text":"\u9999\u6e2f\u5b78\u8853\u60c5\u5831\u5ba4","link":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/category\/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%ad%b8%e8%a1%93%e6%83%85%e5%a0%b1%e5%ae%a4\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7097,"url":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/2025\/09\/17\/article-water-on-cross-border-screens-hong-kong-water-tales-from-the-1960s\/","url_meta":{"origin":7590,"position":4},"title":"[Article] Water on cross-border screens, Hong Kong water tales from the 1960s","author":"\u624b\u6c11\u51fa\u7248\u793e","date":"17\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Author: Zimu Zhang Source: Journal of Chinese Cinemas Link: https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/17508061.2025.2510066?src=exp-la&fbclid=IwY2xjawM93BpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFFNGM2RENaeVRGQThZRDFrAR6pUCCESdPv6wv9OeCNz2Pbyuso_079UHwOD_5txp5N9o33roEy8pz0b_jTzg_aem_9UX3jyZ2lWArtzvvLLGydQ Abstract This paper examines the massive engineering of water, mediated through screen practices, in the 1960s Hong Kong-Guangdong borderscape. Facing severe water scarcity, both the communist Chinese government and the British Hong Kong colonial government launched large-scale water infrastructures as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hong Kong Studies Newsroom"","block_context":{"text":"Hong Kong Studies Newsroom","link":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/category\/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%ad%b8%e8%a1%93%e6%83%85%e5%a0%b1%e5%ae%a4-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8287,"url":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/2026\/06\/29\/article-it-makes-a-village-hong-kongs-podium-shopping-malls-as-global-villages\/","url_meta":{"origin":7590,"position":5},"title":"[Article] It Makes a Village: Hong Kong’s Podium Shopping Malls as Global Villages","author":"\u624b\u6c11\u51fa\u7248\u793e","date":"29\/06\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Author: Jonathan D. Solomon Source: Aspects of Urbanization in China Link: https:\/\/www.taylorfrancis.com\/chapters\/oa-edit\/10.5117\/9789089643988-13\/makes-village-jonathan-solomon Abstract As British colonial rule in Hong Kong waned, a plan was drawn up for the future of the city as an interconnected global metropolis. A US$ 20-billion public works project, the Airport Core Program, was implemented to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hong Kong Studies Newsroom"","block_context":{"text":"Hong Kong Studies Newsroom","link":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/category\/%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%ad%b8%e8%a1%93%e6%83%85%e5%a0%b1%e5%ae%a4-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/typesetter.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/article.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/145170531"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7590"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7591,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7590\/revisions\/7591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesetter.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}