Research on the Formation Process of a Multi-ethnic Network in Urban Mixed-use District by Ethnic Minorities Living in Mixed-use Buildings, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Abstract

The function of urban space in multi-ethnic network formation by ethnic minorities in urban mixed-use district, in Wanchai, Hong Kong, was studied in this paper. A hearing survey was conducted in February 2004 to collect the chronology of network development with people in HK, as fundamental analysis. It was found that five urban space components are important for formation of a multi-ethnic network in the mixed-use district. These are (1) Entertainment business (tourism) related - bars, discos, nightclubs, ethnic restaurants; (2) Construction related - architects, engineering firms, interior material retailing showrooms; (3) Public leisure facilities - open public parks, basketball grounds, playgrounds; (4) Public places - streets, market places; (5) Residence - self or others. Sequences of multi-ethnic network formation in these places were analysed in a networked graph, though the representation of ″an ethnic minority gather with acquaintances in one place (X) has his acquaintance network extends and gather in other place (Y)″ by a directional network relationship between sender (X) and receiver (Y). It is found that among these components, (1) and (2) are the major places, which attract ethnic minorities to form multi-ethnic networks in Wanchai. From networks formed in these places, further networks are induced to form in places (3) and (5) and further to (4). A directional relationship of multi-ethnic formation in these places suggests the process of multi-ethnic network formation and extension in the mixed-use district.