Figure 1. Case location, historical map adapted from Planning control: Tin Shui Wai/ Yuen Long Outline Development Plan, 1986. In dark grey, the new town developments; in white, the areas not subjected to statutory planning.

Figure 2. Yuen Long Nullah transforming from a natural stream to an artificial channel (1963-2017).

Figure 3. Agricultural landscape (black) in the experimental group (left) and the control group (right) in 1963.

Figure 4. Non-conforming land use in the experimental group (1963-2017)

Figure 5. Non-conforming land use in the control group (1963-2017)

Figure 6. Landscape patterns of agricultural land and five types of non-conforming land in the experimental group (left) and control group (right) from 1963 to 2017.

Figure 7. Channelised rivers in Yuen Long plain / water quality and brownfield development, courtesy of Caterina Villani.

Table 1. Landscape transformation ratio (1963-2017)