Physical Environment in Forming the Urban Corporate Identity: Hong Kong’s CBDs

This article addresses the physical environment in forming the Urban Corporate Identity in Central and Kwun Tong considered two Central Business District or CBDs in Hong Kong with distinct development backgrounds. Moreover, the walkability and transit accessibility of a CBD is crucial to its vibrancy. The study uses methodology derived from existing literature on walkability, urban marketing approaches (Ashworth, G. J. – Voogd, H. 1990), to assess and compare the image and nation branding of Central and Kwun Tong. It is found that Kwun Tong’s urban fabric, inherited from its industrial past, is a factor leading to the lower walkability of the CBD. Moreover, the transit accessibility of Kwun Tong is found to be far behind Central.