The purpose of this paper is to study urban and social impacts brought about by land reclamation in Hong Kong since the early 20th century. To do so, this paper focuses on Wanchai, a coastal district in Hong Kong which has experienced dissimilar development in its Northern and Southern parts over a series of expansions into the harbour. This paper contributes to the ongoing debate about land reclamation as a place-making strategy for future growth by highlighting how the developments on new land, directly and indirectly, impact that of old existing communities.