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1. New harbour kit fails to please Legco

1. New harbour kit fails to please Legco
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 27 April 2005

A new document designed to gather public opinions on the future of the Wan Chai waterfront was unveiled to an unfriendly reception from legislators yesterday.

It was released to replace an earlier version that was heavily criticised for disguising government reclamation attempts.

Members of the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee presented the new document, "The Harbourfront Enhancement Review - Wan Chai and the Adjoining Areas Public Engagement Kit", at Legco's panel on planning, lands and works.

But the document, which asks more than 35 questions to gauge opinion on the ideal waterfront and best way to solve traffic congestion, failed to please legislators.

Cheung Hok-ming, of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, said the document was worse than the previous version because it failed to give the public viable options from which to choose answers.

Liberal Party legislator Lau Wong-fat, who chairs the panel, asked why the committee needed to ask the public before it came up with proposals. "You are professionals. Why do you need to ask the public first? Why should we pay you?" he said.

Non-affiliated Kwok Ka-ki criticised the committee for conspiring with the government to trap the public into supporting reclamation.

Committee member Leung Kong-yui, who chairs the Wan Chai review subcommittee, said the document was designed to stimulate discussion. "So it is written in a way to show there are no preconceived decisions," Mr Leung said.

In a statement issued last night, the committee expressed regret about the comments of some legislators, saying it had consulted three district councils and the Town Planning Board on the exercise, and had received support.

The document presented five possible routes linking Central with Causeway Bay. The options are a tunnel, a deep tunnel, a shallow tunnel, a flyover and a ground-level road. All involve varying degrees of reclamation.

But the document contains no information on how much land would need to be reclaimed with each option.

The document outlines problems with the harbourfront, such as narrow and disconnected promenades and limited attractions and activities.

Among the questions are: should attractions be affordable or expensive or both; do we need round-the-clock facilities; should the Causeway Bay shelter be retained?

The document also asks if there should be more footbridges linking the harbourfront and whether the waterfront should be connected to Victoria Park.