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1. Speech by the Director of Planning

2. Harbour planning to be reviewed with full public participation

3. Harbour facts ‘hidden’

4. Dismay at development proposal for green sites

5. Harbour protection group hands fight to the public

1. Speech by the Director of Planning
Hong Kong Government, 16 March 2004

Following is a speech by the Director of Planning, Mr Bosco Fung, at the Designing Hong Kong Harbour District Stakeholders Lunch Meeting at Island Shangri-La Hotel today (March 16) (English Only):

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Many thanks to the Designing Hong Kong Harbour District organisers for giving me this opportunity to present the Government's position on harbour reclamation to all of you. Now that all the court cases are behind us and the legal principle on harbour reclamation has been clearly defined, it is time to turn a new chapter in the planning and development of our harbour. And it is time to build community consensus on how we should enhance and make the best out of what we all regard as one of the most precious public assets of Hong Kong. It is time to heal and move on.

To set an overall scene, I would like to take stock of the whole harbour reclamation saga and share with you some of our thoughts on how we intend to take the matter forward.

First of all, let us look back on how our harbour has evolved and how public aspirations have changed. Undeniably, reclamation used to be a mainstay of land supply to meet ever-growing housing and economic needs in Hong Kong. Most of our Central Business District and many of our essential infrastructure projects like roads and railways were built on reclaimed land. Public sentiment towards harbour reclamation, however, changed rapidly in the mid-90s. With seemingly incessant urban growth eating further into Victoria Harbour, the public started to ask whether it was the right way forward.

These community concerns culminated in the enactment of the Protection of Harbour Ordinance in 1997. The Government also shared the view that Victoria Harbour was a special public asset and a part of the natural heritage of Hong Kong that should be protected and preserved. We therefore took the initiative to initiate amendment to the Protection of Harbour Ordinance to extend its coverage from the Central Harbour to include the entire Victoria Harbour in 1999. In recognition of the spirit of this ordinance and the rising community aspirations, the Town Planning Board also set out in October 1999 a vision statement for Victoria Harbour, pledging to make it attractive, vibrant, accessible and symbolic - to create a Harbour for the people, a Harbour of Life.

To fulfil this vision, the Planning Department has reviewed the planning of the Harbour based on the planning intent to protect the Harbour and to create a quality waterfront for the people.

We reviewed all the planned reclamation projects. Of the seven proposals within the harbour, which dated back to the 1980s, Kowloon Point and Tsim Sha Tsui were dropped some years ago and they never proceeded to the statutory planning stage. The other two at Tsuen Wan and Hong Kong Island West were also deleted recently from the relevant statutory plans.

We have reviewed the statutory plans for Southeast Kowloon, Central and Wan Chai which contained reclamation proposals. We have undertaken active public consultation on harbour reclamation projects through various means, including the exhibition of Outline Zoning Plans under the Town Planning Ordinance. As a result of the hearing of public objections and representations by the Town Planning Board, in the case of South East Kowloon Development, for example, the size of reclamation was reduced from about 300 to 130 hectares. Similarly, the size of reclamation for the Central Extension OZP was reduced from 38 to 23 hectares, and for Wan Chai, from 45 to 28 hectares.

Hearing of objections with the objectors appearing in person before the Town Planning Board was part and parcel of the whole consultation and plan-making process. In addition to this statutory process, there was also wide public consultation at different stages of the planning review. In the case of Southeast Kowloon Development, for example, we convened three forums open to all members of the public, and more than 20 briefings to various organisations, including District Councils, Legco panels, professional bodies and environmental groups. The revision of the plans and scaling down of the reclamation extent was a result of the public consultation.

Apart from the statutory planning process, the Planning Department also consulted the public on harbour planning through the Harbour Plan Study. The study, launched in late 1999, comprised two stages, each featuring a series of public consultation activities, including a public forum in March 2001 attended by 200 people representing community groups, professional bodies, statutory committees, green groups and other interested parties, and a forum tailor-made for District Council members. These together with the views we obtained from other avenues during the three-year study process resulted in a set of harbour planning principles and a planning framework, as well as development concepts for certain selected Harbourfront Action Areas as a basis for detailed planning.

As you can see, extensive public consultation on harbour planning did take place, and we have responded positively to the views received during the consultation. Criticisms that the Government never listens are harsh, and quite unfair. We have the same aspirations for our Harbour as the community. What went wrong was perhaps because our interpretation of the Protection of Harbour Ordinance was based on legal opinion that was now found to be different from that of the Court of Final Appeal. Of course, this is all history now. But one must learn from history. The lesson we can learn, in my opinion, is that community views and aspirations are never static and can change quickly, and we should be more forward-looking and proactive in coping with changing public aspirations. There is also always room for improvement of the public consultation process and the form of consultation. To realise our goal of returning the harbour to the people, we must step up dialogue with the people and establish partnership with all the stakeholders. We must engage the whole community in a frank, open and rewarding dialogue, and try to encourage balanced discussion rather than emotive exchanges.

A platform on which we can start this community engagement process is a comprehensive review of our Harbour Plan that was formulated before the latest spate of judicial reviews. The objective is to produce a new integrated harbourfront plan, not merely for harbour protection, but also for harbour enhancement, and to create opportunities for better access, higher visual quality and a livelier harbourfront area for the enjoyment of our people and visitors.

The comprehensive review, as I can see it at this juncture, may comprise three major components, with full community participation in each of them. The first major component can include a review of the harbour planning principles and the overall planning framework that were previously established. Feedback and opinions from the community on the harbour planning principles can then form the basis for the second and third components, ie, enhancement of the existing harbourfront areas and review of the planning of the new reclamation areas. The second component can focus on long-term new opportunities and appropriate new land uses for our existing harbourfront areas, as well as opportunities for immediate action to enhance public enjoyment of these areas.

As for the third component, that is, the new reclamation projects, I wish to reiterate the now well-rehearsed Government statement that apart from CRIII, Wan Chai North and Southeast Kowloon, there will be no more reclamation in the harbour in future. For Wan Chai North and Southeast Kowloon, we will soon be commencing further studies to ensure that any new reclamation, if proposed, will be in full compliance with the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance based on the "overriding public need test". We will attach the greatest importance to early consultation with the public, even at the stage of development of conceptual ideas. Open discussion forums with all stakeholder groups will be organised. So every one of you can participate in them to express views at an early stage.

The Harbourfront Enhancement Advisory Committee announced by the Government last week, which will comprise members of different community interest groups, will also provide an important forum to discuss harbourfront planning and development issues. Details of the membership and operation of this Advisory Committee, as well as those of the community engagement programme for the harbour planning review will be announced later. With full community support and participation, I am confident that our vision for a world-class harbourfront in Hong Kong can be realised.

The recent series of activities mounted by the various community initiatives like the Citizen Envisioning @ Harbour and this Designing Hong Kong Harbour District initiative mark an important community movement to enhance our harbourfront for the enjoyment of all. I look forward to your continued contribution to harbour planning. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you.

2. Harbour planning to be reviewed with full public participation
Hong Kong Government, 16 March 2004

The Government will engage the whole community in a comprehensive review of the planning and development of Hong Kong's harbourfront area, the Director of Planning, Bosco Fung said today (March 16).

Addressing the Designing Hong Kong Harbour District Stakeholders lunch meeting, Mr Fung said the review would produce a new integrated plan for harbour protection as well as enhancement, creating opportunities for better access, higher visual quality and a livelier harbourfront for the enjoyment of local people and visitors.

With all the court cases on harbour reclamation behind us and the legal principles on harbour reclamation clearly defined, Mr Fung said it was time to heal and move on, turning a new chapter in habour planning.

"It is time to build community consensus on how we should enhance and make the best out of what we all regard as one of the most precious public assets of Hong Kong," he said.

Explaining the preliminary idea of the comprehensive review, Mr Fung said it would comprise three major components, with full community participation in each facet.

The first component of the review, he said, would involve re-examining the harbour planning principles and the overall planning framework that were previously established in the Harbour Plan Study that was completed in early 2003 before all the legal proceedings relating to harbour reclamation had been instituted.

After considering community feedback on the harbour planning principles and framework, the Government would then consider ways to enhance the existing harbourfront areas and review plans for the new reclamation areas, which would form the review's second and third components.

"The second component can focus on new long-term opportunities and appropriate new land uses for our existing habourfront areas, as well as opportunities for immediate action to enhance public enjoyment of these areas," Mr Fung said.

"As for the third component, that is, the new reclamation projects, I wish to reiterate the now oft-stated Government statement that apart from Central Reclamation Phase III, Wan Chai North and Southeast Kowloon, there will be no more reclamation in the harbour in future."

"For Wan Chai North and Southeast Kowloon, we will soon be starting further studies to ensure that any new reclamation, if proposed, will be in full compliance with the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance based on the 'overriding public need test'."

Mr Fung pledged that the public would be consulted at an early stage when conceptual ideas were formed, adding that open discussion forums with all stakeholder groups would be organised.

The Harbourfront Enhancement Advisory Committee announced by the Government last week, which will comprise members of different community interest groups, will also provide an important forum to discuss harbourfront planning and development issues.

Looking back on the reclamation saga, Mr Fung reiterated that the Government shared the same aspirations as the community to preserve and protect Victoria Harbour, which is regarded as a special public asset and a part of Hong Kong's natural heritage.

He said that following the enactment of the Protection of Harbour Ordinance in 1997, the Government took the initiative to amend the ordinance to extend its coverage from the Central Harbour to include the whole of Victoria Harbour in 1999.

In recognition of the spirit of the ordinance and rising public aspirations, the Town Planning Board also set out in October 1999 a vision statement for Victoria Harbour, pledging to make it attractive, vibrant, accessible and a symbol of Hong Kong, so that it would be a harbour for the people and a harbour of life.

Mr Fung explained that after reviewing the seven harbour reclamation projects, which dated back to the 1980s, the Government had decided to proceed with only the plans for Central, Wan Chai and Southeast Kowloon, all of which underwent active public consultation and were significantly amended after the Town Planning Board had heard the public's objections and representations.

The reclamation size of South East Kowloon Development was reduced from about 300 to 130 hectares. Similarly, the reclamation for the Central (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan was reduced from 38ha to 23ha, and that for Wan Chai, from 45 to 28ha.

Apart from the statutory planning process, the Planning Department also consulted the public on harbour planning through the Harbour Plan Study, launched in late 1999 and completed in early 2003.

Drawing lessons from the rapid changes in community views and aspirations about Victoria Harbour, Mr Fung said the public consultation process in the future would be more forward-looking and proactive.

"To realise our goal of returning the harbour to the people, we must step up dialogue with the people and establish partnership with all the stakeholders," he said.

"We must engage the whole community in a frank, open and rewarding dialogue, and try to encourage balanced discussion rather than emotive exchanges."

3. Harbour facts ‘hidden’
Paris Lord, The Standard 17 March 2004

The full impact of the Harbour Reclamation project has been hidden from public view, environmental activists battling the development claimed yesterday.

The massive harbour reclamation between Central and Wan Chai will include 12 lanes of additional highways, nine office blocks and six million square feet of office space, Society for the Protection of the Harbour chairwoman Christine Loh said yesterday.

Yesterday's charges by Loh signal a new counterattack by the society on the contentious development.

One week after losing a high court judicial review of the HK$3.79 billion reclamation project, opponents are taking their case to the court of public opinion.

``There are nine buildings included in the plans that have never been mentioned in public,'' she said.

``I urge people not to be satisfied with what they are being told by the government. They will not like the truth.''

The Transport Department admitted that one of the highways, known as the P2 network, running beside the waterline at the Tamar site, will have four main lanes, with additional lanes at the intersections.

All together, Loh said, there are plans for 12 traffic lanes between the Tamar site and the tip of the outlying islands ferry piers in Central - the six-lane underwater bypass to Wan Chai and the six-lane P2 network that parallels Connaught Road Central.

Loh told a Designing Hong Kong Harbour District initiative luncheon that thousands of inhabitants in the new buildings would quickly clog up any new roads and negate any impact the project is to have on easing traffic congestion.

Government planners are to blame, said long-time reclamation opponent and former society chairman Winston Chu. ``They just treat Hong Kong people as stupid.''

Loh charged that the P2 road network will comprise six lanes, but pictures in a Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau document portrayed it as a tree-shaded lane in a park-like setting.

Loh called on the government to clarify how wide the P2 will be and how much office space will be allowed. The society has long contended that the government refuses to look at alternatives to harbour front reclamation and road building as a way to ease downtown congestion.

Loh called on the government to publish the full report of a HK$75 million study into electronic road pricing, which could deter motorists from entering Central, a tactic that has been tried successfully in London.

``For the community to do its work [and help redesign the harbour front], we need the information,'' Loh said.

A Transport Department spokesman said: ``The P2 road is essentially a dual two-lane [four-lane] road with additional lanes at junctions for turning traffic.'' He said an executive summary of the road pricing report was published in April 2001. The full report has yet to be released.

Loh said the new 20-member Harbourfront Enhancement Advisory Committee announced last Tuesday by Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Carrie Lam will not be examining the Central reclamation project, but will only be focusing on the Wan Chai north and south east Kowloon projects.

Lam declined to directly address Loh's six million square feet office space claim, saying what is to be built above the reclaimed area and how it will be managed will be put to the advisory committee.

She said there was no need for the committee to re-examine the Central project since the courts have passed on it.

``The government is proceeding ... to complete the Central-Wan Chai bypass and all the related essential infrastructure,'' Lam said.

4. Dismay at development proposal for green sites
Dennis Chong, The Standard 17 March 2004

A proposal by the government to get private enterprises to inject money into ecological preservation by developing previously conserved land has received the thumbs down by environmental protection activists, who say it will not work.

It had been suggested that one way to preserve such land would be to build a golf course.

However, one legislator said that to maintain a proper golf course, the developer would have to use bug killers, which would destroy, rather than maintain, the ecological balance.

As part of the government's overall conservation policy, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao said on Monday that private developers would soon be allowed to conduct limited development on previously conserved land.

However, to ensure the land was not turned into pure property developments, the developers would first have to enhance the ecological value of the land before launching other projects.

One of the designated sites is the Sham Chung wetland near Sai Kung, believed to have been bought by Sun Hung Kai Properties.

The Sing Tao Daily, sister newspaper of The Standard, has reported it is to become a golf course.

Cyd Ho, deputy chairwoman of the environmental affairs panel of the Legislative Council, said she would be surprised if the government approved the building of a golf course.

``How can building a golf course, which will kill lots of wildlife with the use of bug killers, help preserve the land?'' she asked.

In its defence, the government has said the projects will be carefully controlled.

The chairman of the Hong Kong People's Council for Sustainable Development, Albert Lai, said the government should only grant development rights to those developers who had previously been involved in environmental protection.

This would ensure the land would be put to good use, he said.

5. Harbour protection group hands fight to the public
SARA BRADFORD, SCMP 17 March 2004

An environmental group is standing down in its fight over protection of Victoria Harbour and calling on the public to take up the battle.

Society for the Protection of the Harbour chairwoman Christine Loh Kung-wai said she was battle-weary after taking the government to court six times in an attempt to curtail its reclamation policies.

She made the declaration at a function held by the Designing the Hong Kong Harbour District initiative was to forge consensus on sustainable planning around the harbour. The South China Morning Post is a media sponsor of the grouping.

Ms Loh, who is also a co-ordinator for the design initiative, said: "It takes time, it takes effort, it takes resources. So the work of the society has been completed and we will now hand over the harbour to all of you."

She said the society had still to decide whether to appeal against last week's court decision in which Mr Justice Michael Hartmann in the Court of First Instance ruled that the chief executive had the power to refuse to send back the controversial Central Reclamation Phase III plans to the Town Planning Board.

Ms Loh said the government's website for the plan showed a road running next to the Tamar site as a bicycle path. "But what the government is proposing there is two six-lane bypasses. Do we truly need two six-lane highways?" she asked.

She also said Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had gone on radio and said no report existed on electronic road pricing (EPR). There was just an executive summary.

"I was shocked to hear that," Ms Loh said. "The government should be more up front for us to work in a collaborative process."

Her comments followed submissions yesterday by the group Save Our Shorelines to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa of alternatives to reducing congestion rather than the construction of roads.

Chairman John Bowden said a consultancy report existed on EPR but the government had been reluctant to release it.

Bosco Fung Chi-keung, Director of Planning, said the government had taken great steps to consult the public over harbour developments. He said the community would be consulted at the earliest stage.