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1. People don't buy reclamation claims: report

2. Contest puts new slant on beauty

3. SCMP Cartoon

1. People don't buy reclamation claims: report
AGNES LAM, SCMP 9 February 2004

The public does not believe the government's claim that harbour reclamation to build more roads is the only way to ease traffic congestion, according to results of a hearing.

The results of the public hearing were released yesterday by an umbrella group representing 17 non-governmental organisations, including environmental and social welfare groups and professional bodies.

They come ahead of a judicial review of the 18-hectare Central reclamation project that begins today in the Court of Final Appeal.

In December, the Court of Final Appeal rejected the Wan Chai reclamation project and said the criteria of "overriding public need" was required for such projects to proceed.

The Citizen Envisioning @ Harbour group held a public hearing on reclamation in December, receiving 28 verbal presentations and 12 written submissions.

The report says the public acknowledges the traffic congestion in the Central district but question the government's claims that the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, which requires harbour reclamation, is the only solution to the problem.

The public also believes that more reclamation work will lead to increased business development and a rise in traffic, the report says.

There are doubts the government will keep its promise to cease reclamation, although the authorities have pledged the proposed Central reclamation phase three and Wan Chai development phase two will be the last two projects, the report says.

"Reclamation should no longer be regarded as an option to ease traffic congestion," group member Albert Lai Kwong-tak said. "The government should consider other alternatives such as restructuring traffic routes and tunnels or introducing electronic road tolls."

The report suggests the government release more data on harbour projects to allow more public participation and ease people's fears.

"The government should consider public opinions, release more information about its projects and put all the data together. Then the public can understand what all this is about," said group member Lee Chack-fan, who is also pro-vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong.

Professor Lee said the government should set up one body to take full responsibility for any project involving reclamation.

A Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau spokesman said the Central project was trying to minimise the reclamation needed for the project to proceed.

He said the government would do whatever it could to protect and preserve the harbour.

"The government will continue to exchange views with interested organisations on how the partnership ... can be fostered," he said.

2. Contest puts new slant on beauty
CARRIE CHAN, SCMP 9 February 2004

Most people associate beauty contests with pretty girls in swimsuits, but momentum is now gathering in a unique competition - to find the most attractive slope in Hong Kong.

Out of 55 entries, judges have picked their top four slopes: at Lung Tak Court, Stanley, the Hong Kong International School, a residential estate at 127 Repulse Bay Road and Sau Mau Ping Estate.

A spokesman for the Civil Engineering Department, which launched the scheme with three community bodies last June, said the idea was not simply to encourage safety.

They wanted to promote landscaped slopes that were predominantly green, pleasing to the eye and that blended well with the environment.

"There are about 57,000 man-made slopes around Hong Kong. About one-third are privately owned and many of them are near residential buildings," he said.

"When there are initiatives to beautify the slopes, Hong Kong's living environment can be greatly improved."

This is not the only initiative the department has launched to improve slopes. It is also spending $869 million in a 10-year campaign to minimise the chances of landslip on 250 government-owned slopes.

The award scheme's assessment panel includes representatives of the Civil Engineering Department, the Professional Green Buildings Council, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies and the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects.

Independent assessment panel members include the University of Hong Kong's chair professor in geography, Jim Chi-yung, explorer and founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation Rebecca Lee Lok-sze and Friends of the Earth's director Mei Ng Fong Siu-mei.

Hong Kong's most beautiful slope will be announced next Monday.

3. SCMP Cartoon
SCMP 9 February 2004