Research Projects
Supported by various research projects, including SPPR, GRF, NSFC, CCFS, the research team has accomplished a number of studies on urban (re)development, urban poverty, low-income housing, complex self-organising urban systems, spontaneous social order, and gated communities.
Projects
Towards co-governance? Emergent forms of neighbourhood governance in urban China and their implications. Research Grant Council, University Grants Committee of Hong Kong, General Research Fund (RGC/GRF) (Grant No. 17616524), HKD 1,192,592, PI, 01/2025-12/2027.
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Socio-Spatial Restructuring and the Transformation of Residential Patterns under China’s New-type of Urbanization. National Social Science Foundation of China, Major Research Project, RMB 700,000, Co-PI, 01/2025-01/2027. (PI: Prof. Hualou Long, Guangxi University)
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Conceptual Framework for Transforming Sha Lo Tung into an Insect-Themed Multi-functional Eco-Park (Project No. EEB(EB) 27/24/11-54) Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme, Environment and Ecology Bureau, HKSAR Government, HKD 2,999,000, PI, 01/07/2024-28/02/2026
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A social-ecological-technical systems approach to flood risk governance in the Greater Bay Area: vulnerabilities, inequalities, and sustainability pathways. Seed Fund for Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Scheme, University Research Committee, The University of Hong Kong, HKD1,000,000, PI, 06/2024-06/2027.
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Cultural economic geographies of high-quality tea in China: Symbolic values, socio-technical networks, and geographical implications. Principal Investigator, Hong Kong Research Grants Council – General Research Fund, Project No. 17606724, HK$ 900,216, 2024-2027
The social use of culture: Empowering community through culture-based initiatives amidst China's rural renaissance and revitalization. HKU Seed Fund for Basic Research, Principal Investigator, HK$ 46,520, 2024-2025
Lived religiosity in secular modernity: A case study of traditional Chinese religions in Hong Kong, principal investigator, Social Sciences Internal Seed Grant Scheme, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, HK$147,776, 2024-2026
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Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, Strategic Pathways to Urban Innovation: A Smart Specialisation Development Framework for Hong Kong (HKD 689K) (2024/12/01 – 2026/05/31)
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University Grants Committee – Early Career Scheme (Project No. 27212324), Incentivize Safe Driving of Minibus Drivers in Hong Kong (HKD 549K) (2025/01/01-2027/12/31)
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Environment and Conservation Fund (Project No. 138/2023), A Low-cost Mobile Sensing Platform for Air Quality Monitoring at High Spatial Resolution in Hong Kong (HKD 500K) (2024/07/01-2026/06/30)
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Promoting Hong Kong Residents’ Cross-border Healthcare Utilization and Cross-border Mobility in the Greater Bay Area: Recent Priorities and Long-term Policy Framework - Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Hong Kong SAR Government, 2022-2025
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Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Conservation and Revitalisation in Hing Chun Yeuk Seven Villages, Kuk Po and Fung Hang, Hong Kong, Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme – Research Activities on Countryside Conservation and Revitalisation, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, PI, 09/2021-08/2022
The Rise of Education-featured Gated Communities in Chinese Cities: Formation Mechanism and Implications on Housing Differentiation, The Case of Guangzhou (Ref: 17614720), University Grants Committee of Hong Kong, General Research Fund (GRF), 01/2021-12/2023.
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Multi-dimensional Housing Inequalities under Financialisation in Pandemic-stricken Chinese and European Megacities, University Research Committee, The University of Hong Kong,01/2021-12/2023.
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Equalisation of and Accessibility to Basic Public Services in Developed Regions in China: Theorisation and Practices, National Social Science Foundation of China, Major Research Project, 04/2020 - 04/2022.
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The Mechanism of Low-income Housing Development and Its Integrative Effects in Urban China, National Science Foundation of China, General Program (Ref:41871165), 01/2019 -12/2022.
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Uneven Distribution of High-quality Healthcare Resources in Chinese Cities and Its Socio-spatial Implications, National Science Foundation of China, General Program (Ref:41671153), 01/2017 -12/2020.
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Chinese Investment in Bangladesh Infrastructure Projects, commissioned by Chinese Academy of Sciences, 01/2020 -12/2020.
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A Pilot Study on Green Development in Nepal, commissioned by Centre for International Knowledge on development, Development Research Centre of the State Council of the People's Republic China, 05/2019 - 05/2020.
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Small Property Right Housing Development in China, University Research Committee, The University of Hong Kong, 06/2016 - 06/2019.
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Low-end Housing Provision under financialisation and Its Socio-spatial Implications in Urban China, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2016 China Program International Fellowship, 02/2016 - 02/2017.
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Urban Socio-Spatial Restructuring in China, National Science Foundation of China, Excellent Young Scientist Fund (Ref: 41322003),01/2014 -12/2016.
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A Political Economy Analysis of China's Urban Redevelopment and Its Socio-spatial Outcomes, National Science Foundation of China, General Program (Ref:41271180), 01/2013 -12/2016.
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Socio-spatial Restructuring under the 'Three Old' Redevelopment Policy in Pearl River Delta, the State Key Laboratory of Sub-tropical Building Sciences, China, 12/2011-12/2013.
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Urban Redevelopment and Socio-spatial Restructuring from the Analytical Perspective of Urban Regime Theory, the Ministry of Education, China, 01/2011-12/2012.
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Two Waves of Gentrification and ItsSocio-spatial Consequences in Guangzhou, the Ministry of Education, China, 01/2011-12/2012
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Gentrification in Large Chinese Cities under Market Transition, A Case Study of Guangzhou, National Science Foundation of China, Young Scholars Program (Ref: 40801061), 01/2009 -12/2011.