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Picture of the week

Declared Monuments in Hong Kong

Government House

Government House was formerly the office and residence of previous Governors of Hong Kong. Construction works started in 1851 and took four years to complete. At that time it enjoyed a fine harbour view. It was originally built in the Georgian style and bore rich colonial characteristics. It underwent a number of large-scale renovations, with the latest undertaken in 1942, during the Japanese Occupation, by a Japanese engineer, Siechi Fujimura, who designed to construct a dominant central tower to link the two original buildings; the roofs were also modified to add in more Japanese flavour, thus diminishing the strong European style of the mansion. It was then used as the military headquarters for the Japanese until 1945. Since the establishment of the HKSAR, Government House has become the residence and office for the Chief Executive. Source: Leisure and Cultural Services Department

News Headlines

Vision to carve up Tamar into five areas presented
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 4 May 2006

In a last-ditch effort to influence lawmakers against issuing a "blank check" for the proposed government headquarters at Tamar, a group of activists has hatched an alternative vision for the site and its surrounding areas that involve simple adjustments while conforming with the administration's current plans.

Harbour activists unveil own plan for Tamar HQ
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 4 May 2006
Harbour activists yesterday unveiled a counterproposal to the government's plan for building its headquarters at Tamar.

Tourism plans will destroy heritage: residents
QUINTON CHAN , SCMP 1 May 2006
More developments are being planned in Tai O to promote tourism, but some residents and a green group criticised the construction as excessive.

Lawmakers floored as Tamar HQ soars in size
Leslie Kwoh , The Standard 26 April 2006
Lawmakers were shocked Tuesday to discover that figures previously released by the administration concerning the proposed new government headquarters at Tamar were "misleading."

Tamar project cost more than $40,000 a square metre: expert
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 26 April 2006
The controversial Tamar development will cost more than $40,000 per square metre of floor space to build and the utility rate will be slightly highly than 60 per cent, legislators heard yesterday.

Developers, residents object to height limits
YVONNE LIU , SCMP 26 April 2006
Developers including Cheung Kong (Holdings) and about 130 residents have submitted objections to the Town Planning Board over building height restrictions in Kowloon Tong.

Changes possible for controversial Tamar site
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 25 April 2006

A closed-door meeting between government officials and members of the main pro-Beijing party has revealed that present plans for the HK$5 billion government headquarters at Tamar are "amendable within certain limits."

Cable car draws fire for Lantau risk
Chester Yung, The Standard, 25 April 2006
The nearly completed Ngong Ping cable car project on Lantau has been criticized by lawmakers and conservationists over what they say is a lack of hill-fire prevention measures in the ecologically sensitive area.

Tamar opponents call on stakeholders to share views on project
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard, 25 April 2006
With less than two months to go before lawmakers make the final decision on the controversial new government headquarters at Tamar, opponents of the project have taken matters into their own hands by calling on representatives from government, businesses, political parties and concern groups to meet under one roof.

23 Building plans approved in March
Hong Kong Government, 24 April 2006
The Buildings Department approved 23 building plans in March - six on Hong Kong Island , eight in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories .

Ir James Blake takes over as CEO
KCRC Press Release, 24 April 2006
The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) today announced that Ir James Blake will become the Chief Executive Officer on 1 May 2006 upon the departure of Mr Samuel Lai, Acting Chief Executive Officer at the end of April.

Tamar HQ reduction questioned by activists
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 21 April 2006
Activists yesterday accused the government of "fooling the public and Legco" after it released more figures showing its planned headquarters at the Tamar site would occupy less space than proposed three years ago.

Henderson boss joins attack
SANDY LI , SCMP 19 April 2006
Another big property developer has voiced criticism at government officials' indecision over approving new developments, saying it will eventually equate to astronomical losses for the public.

Road access project to Sai Kung village cancelled
Doug Crets, SCMP 18 April 2006
A rural road project in Ma Nam Wat has been cancelled by the government after conservationists and villagers attempted to start a discussion about alternatives to the development, a source said.

KCRC re-invites expressions of interests for Tuen Mun property development project
KCRC Press Release, 18 April 2006
The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) will re-invite expressions of interest for its Tuen Mun property development project from developers / consortia on 21 April 2006.

Terms for a marriage 'will put MTR on right lines'
DENISE TSANG , SCMP 12 April 2006
Credit rating agencies and financial analysts say the terms of the $12 billion partial merger between the two rail companies are broadly reasonable for the MTR Corporation.

Rail merger will take 50 years to complete
DENISE HUNG , SCMP 12 April 2006
The merger between the city's two rail operators will take a half-century to complete under an agreement signed yesterday by the MTR Corporation and the government.

Cartoon
SCMP, 12 April 2006

Chinese Estates eyes $8.2b from property sales
FOSTER WONG , SCMP 12 April 2006

Chinese Estates Holdings expects to make as much as $8.2 billion from the sale of two key residential projects to be launched this year as it looks to step up property sales to fuel earnings growth.

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