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1. A $16b 'superjail' Hong Kong doesn't need

2. Tenders invited for improvements to Tung Chung Road

3. Draft Ma On Shan Outline Zoning Plan amended

4. Group wins ground in `super jail' battle

5. Pradera heralds new beginning

6. Cartoon

1. A $16b 'superjail' Hong Kong doesn't need
CECILIE GAMST BERG, SCMP 16 May 2003

In these fragile economic times, the Hong Kong government seems to think pouring money into large infrastructure projects is the solution to our economic woes. It is planning to build a "superjail" - a massive penal institution designed to house 7,220 inmates on 117 hectares of reclaimed land at Hei Ling Chau, close to Silvermine Bay.

I wonder about the government's priorities sometimes. It thinks nothing of spending $46.7 million just on the feasibility study for this construction project, while no other option or site is being studied. One can only conclude that even if the site is found to be unfeasible, construction - which will cost $16 billion - will go ahead anyway. Sixteen billion dollars for 7,220 inmates works out at more than $2 million per inmate.

Does the government think prisoners are the ones who most need money spent on them right now? In its application to Legco for funding of the feasibility study, the Public Works Committee cited revenue from the sale of nine existing prison sites as justification for going ahead with the project.

Does the government have buyers lined up for these sites? With property prices falling, the selling of "prime government land" might not be the money-spinner it once was. Can we afford to spend $16 billion with no guarantee of getting it back?

In its application, the committee calls the site an "isolated island off Lantau". Looking at the map, it becomes apparent that the prison will be visible from large parts of Hong Kong island, Kowloon, and, of course, all the outlying islands. Passengers on every ferry to and from Macau and every plane - indeed every tourist going to Disneyland - will see the huge concrete edifice, brightly lit at night. At a time when we so desperately need more tourists, I wonder if building a massive penal institution in the middle of our greatest natural asset is the way to attract them.

Before Chek Lap Kok was built, the government, addressing residents' fears about Lantau degenerating into urban sprawl, promised that South Lantau would not be developed, but would be preserved for recreation and conservation.

In 1999, the South West New Territories development strategy review said that "the coastal areas are intended to be conserved mainly for water-based recreation and low-intensity recreational uses such as [an] aquatic sports centre, walking trails linking ecological habitats and viewing points, camping grounds, holiday accommodation, cycleways and ecotourist centres from which both sea and terrestrial flora and fauna can be experienced".

How does building a mega-prison fit in with this? The proposal includes three options for a "fixed crossing", a bridge or road, from Hei Ling Chau to Mui Wo, all of which will mean major construction work lasting years. Does the government honestly think ecotourism and a massive construction site can coexist peacefully side by side?

Economic and ecological concerns aside, does Hong Kong really need this prison? When the plan was first put forward years ago, high-ranking prison officers advised against keeping so many inmates in the same facility. Has the government done any research into what it really means to have 7,220 inmates under one roof?

Why do we have so many prisoners in the first place? Might not the problem lie with overly conviction-minded judges and a legal system that subjects convicted criminals to what seems, in a modern society, to be excessively long sentences?

Indeed, is not the bulk of our prison population made up of overstayers, illegal immigrants and prostitutes from the mainland?

Hong Kong's leaders, having been put in their positions by the central government, feel secure, and free to spend taxpayers' money in any way they want.

In this time of crisis, with public trust in the government at a record low, however, they would be well advised to act with prudence when it comes to huge expenditure like this. Both economically and politically, the construction of this "superjail" might turn out to be something the Hong Kong government can ill afford.

Cecilie Gamst Berg is a member of Living Islands Movement and a resident of Pui O, Lantau.

2. Tenders invited for improvements to Tung Chung Road
Hong Kong Government, 16 May 2003

Tenders are invited from contractors on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works in Group A or B for Roads and Drainage Works for improvements to Tung Chung Road.

Tender details are on the Highways Department website, http://www.hyd.gov.hk.

The works mainly comprise the widening of Tung Chung Road at five locations between Lung Tseng Tau and Cheung Sha - about 650 metres - and the associated reconstruction of footpaths, retaining walls and slopes, drainage and landscaping works.

Work is expected to start at the end of June 2003 for completion in six months.

The work will be supervised by Mott Connell Ltd for the New Territories Regional Office of the Highways Department.

3. Draft Ma On Shan Outline Zoning Plan amended
Hong Kong Government, 16 May 2003

The Town Planning Board today (May 16) announced amendments to the draft Ma On Shan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The amendments include the rezoning of the areas at the Whitehead headland and near Lok Wo Sha from "Undetermined" ("U") to "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA"), "CDA(1)", "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC"), "Green Belt", "Conservation Area" ("CA") and "Road", the rezoning of an area bounded by Sai Sha Road and Lok Wo Sha Lane from "Open Space" ("O") to "G/IC", and the rezoning of Nin Wah Road from "Residential (Group C)1" to area shown as "Road".

In addition, a set of Notes for the "CDA" and "CA" zones are incorporated and paragraph (9) of the covering Notes in relation to the "U" zone is deleted.

Some minor boundary adjustments to "Village Type Development", "G/IC" and "O" zones in respective areas have also been made in accordance with the existing and proposed roads.

The draft Ma On Shan OZP No. S/MOS/11, incorporating the amendments, is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the following locations:

(I) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point;

(ii) the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, 13/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin;

(iii) the Sha Tin District Office, 4/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin; and

(iv) the Sha Tin Rural Committee, 248 Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin.

Any person affected by the amendments may submit a written objection to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before June 6, 2003.

Copies of the draft OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb.

4. Group wins ground in `super jail' battle
Paris Lord, The Standard 16 May 2003

Lantau Island residents opposing a planned ``super jail'' said they supported lawmakers' partial approval yesterday of a HK$47 million engineering study for the project, but were prepared for more battles.

The Security Bureau argues that Hong Kong's future prison plan warrants building a HK$12 billion, 7,220-inmate jail on reclaimed land between Hei Ling Chau and Sunshine islands, off Lantau's east coast.

Construction of the jail would be likely to start in mid-2006, finishing in late 2012.

Living Islands Movement (LIM) members from Lantau and surrounding islands oppose it, arguing the case for a ``super jail'' has not been proven, alternative sites have been snubbed, and that it will destroy tourism and depress property prices.

The Legislative Council Finance Committee yesterday voted 23-8 in favour of the feasibility study, with 12 abstentions.

Several lawmakers said the government could not afford HK$47 million during the current viral pneumonia crisis, while others said the jail might improve transport links.

Minutes before the vote, deputy security secretary Jennie Chok asked that the study contract be split, with part one valued at HK$7 million and the other at HK$40 million.

She said the first part would take about 10 months to complete, requiring another Legco vote to approve all aspects of the study before the remaining funds could be released.

LIM spokesman and Discovery Bay resident Tom Masterson said he was pleased and surprised with the vote.

``We were told beforehand that we didn't have a hope on this one, that it was predetermined the government had the votes,'' he said.

Legislators instead listened to residents and asked the government many questions based on information LIM had supplied, he said. ``The fact that they amended it and it was a split vote ... means that we made an impact, and the government will have to listen to us before they go any further,'' Masterson said, adding ``if they don't, this is just the beginning''.

He defined that as the start of a ``long-term campaign'' to illuminate issues, including why alternative sites have not been studied, other uses for Hei Ling Chau, including as an ``eco-tourism'' showcase, and the need to conserve government spending.

Last year, an alternative site - at Kong Nga Po in the northern New Territories - was considered, but this was dropped because the land was better reserved for future commercial projects, assistant director of planning Augustine Ng told Legco yesterday.

Emergency response teams could reach that site in 30 minutes, compared with 90 minutes for Hei Ling Chau, a Legco document said.

Mui Wo resident and LIM member Neil McLaughlin said fellow members were anticipating ``constructive and creative discussions over the next several weeks or months with members of the government who can make a difference''.

The group last week asked Secretary for Security Regina Ip to defer the vote for several months to allow for more public consultation. Ip refused, saying her bureau had a ``tight timetable'' to complete the jail by 2013. Yesterday, lawmakers, including The Frontier's Emily Lau, asked that the funding request be withdrawn, but Chok refused.

Lantau residents had spent the past three weeks lobbying all 60 lawmakers to reject the funding proposal, culminating in a ferry ride last Saturday around the planned site to show lawmakers what would be lost if the project goes ahead. One lawmaker went - the Democratic Party's Albert Chan of New Territories West.

The residents conceded one week's notice was short, but were disappointed with the turnout, especially the absence of Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman and Liberal Party legislator Selina Chow.

5. Pradera heralds new beginning
Nicole Kwok, The Standard 16 May 2003

New World Development and Henderson Land Development yesterday kicked off a new round of property launches after the Sars crisis caused developers to delay new releases.

The two developers expect to generate HK$800 million to HK$900 million from the sales of their jointly developed new project La Pradera, which is also known as phases three and four of the Sereno Verde development, in Yuen Long.

Prices of the first batch of 16 units have been cut 20 per cent - to an average HK$1,686 per square foot - compared with the previous price of the two phases of Sereno Verde. The minimum unit price is HK$1.06 million, or HK$1,535 psf.

Prices of the first batch also represent a 10 per cent discount to the market value.

``As the first project launched in the market since the virus outbreak, we intend to offer attractive prices to draw buyers' attention and we hope to bring up the overall property market sentiment,'' New World senior manager for sales and marketing Barbara Ho said.

Henderson Land's senior property manager Donald Cheung said the developers would raise the price for the remaining units and aimed to reach HK$2,000 psf for the entire project.

The developers will also offer buyers of La Pradera furniture packages worth between HK$68,000 and HK$88,000 and legal fees waiver. An additional 1.5 per cent discount on the flat prices is offered to buyers who are under the government's home loan schemes.

Comprising four blocks, La Pradera offers a total of 425 units two- to four-bedroom homes - ranging from 579 sq ft to 1,069 sq ft. The 200 unsold homes in the first two phases of Sereno Verde have an average price of HK$2,000 psf.

The project is the second development in Yuen Long to be launched at a price below HK$2,000 psf. Cheung Kong (Holdings) launched the first batch of Vianni Cove in Tin Shui Wai, a co-development with Sun Hung Kai Properties, at HK$1,313 psf.

Cheung Kong yesterday also launched a new batch of 15 units of Vianni Cove at an average price of HK$1,649 psf with a minimum selling price at HK$1,369 psf.

The developer has sold a total of 745 units, 70 per cent of the total 1,091 units, realising almost HK$1.1 billion.

6. Cartoon
SCMP, 16 May 2003