SKYLINE News Briefing -15 Octobert 2005

The technology race is a strange thing

We witness mobile phones getting more and more technical by the week. In fact they are no longer phones at all, they could be more correctly described as handheld PC's. The downside of this is that hackers and creators of virus software have now focused on this sector. Just as you are expected to purchase and regularly run anti-virus software for your PC, this is now also recommended for your phone. Bizarre isn't it?

Then we hear of Apple releasing their latest iPod (called the Nano). This is such a successful little piece of kit that it has already sold 6.45 million units in no more than a month. The problem is that Apple predicted it would sell at least 6.7 million pieces and so because they've come up short of their target the Apple share price has dropped 7.2%! Doesn't make sense to me, if I were able to sell 6.45 million pieces of anything I'd be trying to find an island paradise for early retirement.

Finally we watch in amazement as the big tech players fight each other for market share. The latest news is that Microsoft and Yahoo plan to link their instant message services in an effort to undermine the apparent stranglehold that AOL has in this area. Late comers Google are also becoming a significant player in instant messaging. So here we have suppliers of essentially a free service fighting with each other for our attention.

It's a strange strange world we live in.

Pilot hopes Kai Tak plan will go ahead
Doug Crets, The Standard 13 October 2005
Government plans to build a HK$2 billion sports complex to train Olympic- level and amateur athletes have given recreational pilots renewed hope for their Kai Tak runway campaign, said Francis Chin, a pilot leading a campaign to preserve the airport for future flyers.

Pet park proposal for West Kowloon
PATSY MOY, SCMP 13 October 2005
An animal welfare agency wants a pet park to be established near the proposed West Kowloon cultural hub, and says it will urge the government to make more parks accessible to pets.

Kai Tak invites another rumpus
Winnie Chong, The Standard 12 October 2005
Plans to turn the former Kai Tak airport site into a world-class sports city could become embroiled in another controversy similar to that which snared the West Kowloon Cultural District project, according to a government advisory body

Planning institute weighs into Tamar row
DIKKY SINN, SCMP 12 October 2005
The Institute of Planners has added its voice to those opposing the relocation of government headquarters to the Tamar site.

High Disney building cost defended
MAY CHAN, SCMP 11 October 2005
Hong Kong Disneyland and the Tourism Commission have taken a united stance in defending the theme park's high construction costs.

Revised plan 'can dispel profit fears'
POLLY HUI, SCMP 10 October 2005
The revised plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District could retain the best of a single-developer concept and dispel public criticism over profits being pocketed by one party, the secretary for home affairs says.

Hub winner faces $50b bill for building arts facilities
DIKKY SINN, SCMP 9 October 2005
The successful bidder for the West Kowloon Cultural District could face a bill as high as $50 billion for the arts component of the project.

$10m plan takes root for the greening of Central
RAYMOND MA, SCMP 9 October 2005

Splashes of colour could transform grey areas in Queensway and near the Star Ferry.
SCMP photo

Stretches of roads in Central could be ripped up and replaced with grass under proposals to make the district greener.

Arts hub carved up to satisfy the public, says Hui
CHLOE LAI, SCMP 8 October 2005

The unpopular single-developer approach for the West Kowloon Cultural District was officially scrapped yesterday after months of wrangling and speculation, in what Chief Secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan said was a move to "satisfy public demands".

1 in 8 comment cards on hub the same
FELIX CHAN and CHLOE LAI, SCMP 8 October 2005
More than 4,000 of the 33,000-plus comment cards members of the public posted to show which of the shortlisted West Kowloon Cultural Project designs they preferred were in identical envelopes and contained similar answers.

Developer that wins project is in line for $40b in sales
PEGGY SITO and ANDY CHENG, SCMP 8 October 2005
The developer that wins the West Kowloon project will rack up nearly $40 billion in property sales under the revised plan unveiled yesterday, according to surveyors.

Developer faces bill of $6b in land cost
ERNEST KONG, SCMP 8 October 2005
Henderson Land Development expects to spend around $6 billion in land premiums for converting an agricultural site in Wu Kai Sha into a residential project.

Henderson still keen on West Kowloon tender
Teddy Ng and Monday Ng, The Standard 8 October 2005
Henderson Land, one of the three short- listed bidders for the West Kowloon arts hub, said it is still interested in participating in the tender even though the government has now decided to abolish the single-developer approach.

Hui fails to allay project fears
Cannix Yau and Carrie Chan, The Standard 8 October 2005
Lawmakers have accused an embattled Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui of retaining "in disguise" a plan to allow a single developer to take over the West Kowloon cultural hub project by empowering the successful bidder to "pick and choose" the best land slots.

Challenge looming on arts hub decision
DENNIS ENG, SCMP 7 October 2005
A court challenge is expected to be launched today if the government insists on proceeding with its controversial West Kowloon Cultural District project using planning procedures that Democratic lawmakers believe are unlawful.

Backup plan lacking for cultural hub
QUINTON CHAN and CHLOE LAI, SCMP 6 October 2005
The government has no backup or exit plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District if the shortlisted developers decide to pull out of the revised project, sources close to the project say.

Discovery Bay is pitching for the tourism dollar by jumping on the culture bandwagon with a $1.5 billion development including a hotel, entertainment and shopping complex.

KCRC refuses to blame contractor for signal failures
ANITA LAM, SCMP
KCRC officials admitted the design of West Rail's signalling system had some "deviation", but they said it would be unfair to ask the contractor to shoulder the costs of a $20 million improvement project.

City University announces $1.9b campus expansion
CHANDRA WONG, SCMP 4 October 2005
City University has outlined a $1.9 billion expansion plan in preparation for the move to four-year degree courses and expected student growth in the next decade.

Building on experience to preserve city's heritage
ANDY CHENG, SCMP 4 October 2005

After 13 years with the URA, Marina Lo is in a key position
to tackle its "outdated" approach. Picture by Dustin Shum

Marina Lo Kai-man's work used to involve knocking down old buildings - now she works to preserve them.

Huge hub changes as Tsang buckles
Carrie Chan, The Standard 4 October 2005
The government is expected to make sweeping changes to the West Kowloon Cultural District project, placing restrictions on how much land will be available for residential and commercial uses and cutting in half the amount of land available to a single developer, sources said Monday.

Developer questions consultation on hub
PATSY MOY, SCMP 3 October 2005
One of the bidders for the West Kowloon Cultural District has questioned the credibility of the government consultation on the project, the result of which is due to be announced this week.

Tamar project a test of Tsang's political nerve
CHRIS YEUNG, SCMP 2 October 2005
Sitting vacant on the Central harbourfront since 1997, the Tamar site has been a makeshift venue for car parking, open-air concerts and commercial exhibitions over the past eight years.

Hongkong Land stakes $6b on Macau with Shun Tak
PEGGY SITO, SCMP 1 October 2005

Hongkong Land Holdings has made its first foray into Macau's property market in a joint venture with Shun Tak Holdings to build a $6 billion residential-retail-hotel project on the waterfront.

Battle lines drawn on urban renewal
Doug Crets, The Standard 1 October 2005
Chief Executive Donald Tsang's plan to build a HK$6 billion government headquarters on the long-vacant Tamar site in Central is crystalizing the debate over the direction Hong Kong's urban environment should take.

Chao firm to spend $2b on Coloane project
Staff reporter, The Standard 1 October 2005
Cheuk Nang (Holdings), a Hong Kong- listed firm controlled by property tycoon Cecil Chao, will spend HK$2 billion developing a Macau site it plans to buy.

HK Land in Macau first with Shun Tak
Danny Chung, The Standard 1 October 2005

Pansy Ho, with father Stanley Ho, is said to have cut the deal with Hongkong Ladn,
and Shun Tak came in after tahtn. Photo: Sing To

Shun Tak Holdings, run by casino mogul Stanley Ho, has formed a joint venture with Central's biggest landlord Hongkong Land to develop a mixed- use property project in Macau.



	20 OCtober 2005