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1. Landslide `yes' vote for Tamar funding

2. $5.2b Tamar HQ funding approved

3. Price tag of $5m to clear Tamar of toxic waste

4. Activists win bigger say in Wedding Card Street project

5. Make Tamar a source of pride

6. Ngong Ping Skyrail Report

1. Landslide `yes' vote for Tamar funding
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 24 June 2006

The government's HK$5.1 billion Tamar development project will go ahead following a landslide 40-10 victory in the Legislative Council's Finance Committee Friday - but the controversy continues as legislators still have a host of unanswered questions on how the government will proceed with the money.

In the more than two hours of deliberation leading up to the vote, all but the government-aligned Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong voiced concerns.

Opponents, as expected, made their last stand but supporters also warned the administration against taking their endorsement to mean a rubber stamp for related projects.

The Democratic Party, which has long raised concerns about the future of Government Hill, reminded officials it is still strongly opposed to the selling of the site. "There's talk that some developers are eyeing that site for commercial use," said party legislator Yeung Sum. "The Democratic Party would be resolutely against that."

Director of Administration Elizabeth Tse Man-yee reiterated that the fate of the site is still undecided.

When pressed, she admitted the government is "open" to the option of building skyscrapers.

Fellow Democrat Lee Wing-tat continued to press the administration to allow for a "public viewing terrace" in the designs for the headquarters, but Tse responded that such a specification would be "unnecessary" in light of the already 7,000 pages of tender requirements.

Lee's request for the creation of "focus groups" to allow architects, designers and surveyors to participate in the design selection process was also denied, with Tse maintaining designs would be virtually unchangeable.

The issue of dioxins at the Tamar site was raised by the Alliance , which questioned whether the government would conduct tests to invalidate the claims. The claims were first put forward by biologist Laurie Wan Shek- luen, who earlier this month disclosed a 1994 study that found the toxic chemicals at the site.

Officials said no tests would be conducted until the government received "scientific evidence" incineration had taken place at the site.

Nevertheless, the government said it would set aside HK$5 million of the fund for the management of pollutants at the site - which would most likely involve solidifying the pollutants in lime and then transferring the material to local landfills.

Throughout the meeting, opponents from the Civic Party along with a handful of independent lawmakers, attempted their last stand - accusing the government of "flawed planning," operating in a "black box" and not conducting sufficient public consultation.

Independent Albert Chan Wai-yip accused the government of "misleading" the people by failing to hold a public consultation, a sign that "our government is not strong, but high- handed and a suppressor of the people."

"Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung agreed, challenging officials to give him six months to change the public's mind.

And unionist Leung Yiu-chung said while he attached great importance to labor and employment, he recommended the government solve the problem by pushing ahead with public projects such as hospitals.

He added that the government should "learn from past mistakes," pointing to the failure of former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa's plan to build 85,000 new flats each year.

Despite these objections, the funding request was passed with the anticipated support from the three largest political parties - Liberal, Democratic and the DAB.

Six members of the Civic Party and four independent lawmakers opposed the motion. There were no abstentions.

Following the meeting, Tse thanked lawmakers for their support, saying she is "confident the new headquarters will serve society well."

She said the government will invite tenders from the four design-and-build applicants in the third quarter, with the aim of exhibiting the models to the public by early next year.

A consultant would be hired to organize the public consultation.

2. $5.2b Tamar HQ funding approved
AMBROSE LEUNG and DIKKY SINN , SCMP 24 June 2006

Officials yesterday won their epic battle to gain funding for the new government headquarters at Tamar - but were warned of more struggles ahead if public concerns on the design and the environment are not heeded.

In the latest step in a saga that began eight years ago, legislators voted 40-10 in favour of a $5.16 billion funding request for the on-again, off-again project.

The vote also laid to rest, at least temporarily, a highly political debate that is perceived by officials as a major challenge to the government led by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

It cleared the way for tenders to be called from the four prequalified bidders in the third quarter of this year. They will be invited to submit their bids by early 2007, with completion tipped for 2010.

Director for Administration Elizabeth Tse Man-yee heaved a sigh of relief after the vote, in which the Liberal Party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Democratic Party and The Alliance overwhelmed opposition by the Civic Party and some independents.

"We are most grateful to the Finance Committee of Legco for having approved the funding application," Ms Tse said. "We are confident that the new headquarters and Legco complex, given all the participation by the public and Legco members, will enable the government to better serve the community."

Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee vowed to fight on. "We are not disappointed and will fight on because the government has not addressed people's concerns."

She said activists would press for the detailed design of the project, ensure the government did not overspend and that officials kept their promise to conserve the historically significant Government Hill buildings.

Some who had opposed the project admitted defeat. "There is nothing else we can do," Emily Lau Wai-hing said. "Do you want us to start a revolution?"

During the debate, concerns were raised about whether the new headquarters and adjacent Legco building would adversely affect air quality and worsen traffic, whether its height will block the island's skyline, and the possible contamination of the site with toxic chemicals.

Opponents urged the government to redevelop the existing Central Government Offices or use the Kai Tak site in East Kowloon and devote the waterfront land to a public park.

In yesterday's debate, Ronny Tong Ka-wah, of the Civic Party, blasted the government for forcing Legco to pay for the project before seeing its design. "This is not in line with democratic principles."

Independent lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip said: "The Tamar project is like dumping money into the sea. Rather than a people's project, it robs people of their right to use their waterfront."

Democrat Yeung Sum urged the government to keep its promise to conserve Government Hill - one reason the Democrats supported the project - warning that the party would oppose selling the current headquarters site to developers.

But Liberal Party vice-chairwoman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said it would be "a great waste" if the site, "which has no preservation value", was not sold.

Ms Tse said any change of land use for the site would be subject to town planning restrictions.

3. Price tag of $5m to clear Tamar of toxic waste
CHEUNG CHI-FAI , SCMP 24 June 2006

Work on the Tamar site may have to await a $5 million cleanup of toxic wastes.
Photo: Robert Ng

Construction workers also air their grievances. Photo: Martin Chan

It will take $5 million to deal with contaminants at the Tamar site but no tests for dioxins will be carried out, legislators were told.

Michael Chiu Tak-lun, acting director of environmental protection, said the contaminants in question were heavy metals and organic compounds. Using quicklime to make them safe would cost $5 million, he said.

Dr Chiu said that there was no case for testing for dioxins since it was not believed any burning of materials likely to have created dioxins occurred at Tamar, formerly the site of a British naval dockyard.

"Dioxin to some extent exists across the harbour but the level is much lower than the internationally permissible level. There should not be any worries about that," he told the Legislative Council's Finance Committee as it met to vet the $5.2 billion funding request for building a government headquarters complex at the site.

Dr Chiu was speaking after harbour protection advocates, including the Civic Party, had sought to delay a decision on Tamar by presenting evidence of dioxin contamination. Exposure to high levels of dioxins has been linked to cancer.

A 1994 environmental impact assessment of the reclamation of the Tamar basin found marine sediments contaminated with levels of heavy metals that were high by the standards adopted at that time.

Thirty-six samples were taken from nine locations up to 9 metres into the seabed. They were tested for seven metals. All but three of the samples were classified as seriously contaminated. One sample contained excessively high levels of lead, zinc, mercury and cadmium.

"The activities at Tamar, in particular ship painting and vessel maintenance, are significant potential sources of trace metals," the report said.

No dredging of these contaminants was recommended because officials believed it was better not to disturb them.

The report also recommended testing for contamination on the site of a workshop used by the navy for more than 70 years for "vessel building and repair, fuel refilling and hazardous substances storage".

"It is possible that the land is contaminated. Potential contaminants include fuel oil, lubrication oil, resins and solvent from ship repair and maintenance," it said.

The government conducted a land contamination assessment in 2003, but not of the area recommended in the 1994 report. Samples were taken only from the site of the reclaimed Tamar basin.

A report of the 2003 findings, which legislators received in March, confirmed the presence of excessive levels of heavy metals and traces of organic compounds in two samples. The samples were among seven taken at two locations and at depths of between 14 metres and 17 metres.

8-year saga

January 16, 1998 Tamar site withdrawn from auction, proposed as site for new government headquarters amid property slump

Late 2000 Government reconsiders selling the site for commercial use

May 2002 Site designated for new government complex

April 2003 Legislative Council panel and public works subcommittee approve plans

May 2003 Plan shelved amid Sars crisis

June 2005 Donald Tsang Yam-kuen says during election campaign he favours relaunching plan

October 2005 In policy address, Mr Tsang says government will seek final approval from Legco Finance Committee

May 25, 2006 Mr Tsang claims 70 per cent of people back plan

May 29 Tamar project passes first hurdle at Legco public works subcommittee

June 12 Post survey finds society divided over the project

4. Activists win bigger say in Wedding Card Street project
NG KANG-CHUNG , SCMP 24 June 2006

Activists fighting to save Wedding Card Street in Wan Chai claimed a partial victory yesterday after winning a bigger say in its redevelopment - but they said the battle was not over.

In endorsing revisions to the proposal, the Town Planning Board asked the Urban Renewal Authority to listen to residents' views and encourage their involvement in the redevelopment so that "local characters, community spirit, and the social network of the area can be preserved as far as practicable".

Lee Tung Street , as Wedding Card Street is properly known, will be redeveloped into a residential zone consisting of high-rise blocks with ground-floor shops.

The planning board also asked the authority to study whether tenement buildings in the area could be preserved. Residents had argued they formed part of the cultural heritage, but the authority said they had little historical import.

A representative for the activists, Kam Fok Lai-ching, said: "Despite the revisions, it only asks the URA to do so `as far as practicable'. It has not fully reflected residents' demands."

Another representative, Ng Kam-chiu, said: "It is a good start. But there is still a long road ahead. We shall keep a close eye on the project and press the authority to follow it closely."

Board members said they appreciated the residents' concerns but that it would be beyond their jurisdiction to require the authority to let them return by giving them flats or shop spaces.

Board member Daniel To Boon-man said: "We have no power to tell the authority how to implement a redevelopment project. But we'll make sure the principles of the revised proposals will be observed."

Another member, Felix Fong Wo, said the board was supposed to safeguard the interests of society as a whole, not only those of the affected residents.

Residents' complaints last year to the Ombudsman that they had not been consulted on the project were found to be unsubstantiated.

5. Make Tamar a source of pride
Editorial, SCMP 24 June 2006

6. Ngong Ping Skyrail Report
MTR Press Releasee, 24 June 2006

The MTR Corporation has taken seriously the extended disruption during trial operation of the Ngong Ping Skyrail on 17 June 2006 and the subsequent decision to delay the opening of Ngong Ping 360. The Corporation has been working closely with its operator, Skyrail-ITM (Skyrail) and the ropeway system manufacturer, Leitner GmbH, throughout their investigation into the cause and other contributing factors of last Saturday's incident.

The Corporation confirms it received Skyrail's report. The findings indicate three

technical problems caused the extended disruption, and it is understood Skyrail has held a media briefing to explain the details of its findings and improvement actions to improve reliability.

“We are satisfied Skyrail and Leitner have adopted a responsible and professional

approach in its investigation and in resolving the problems encountered during trial operations. As the owner of Ngong Ping 360, we believe it is the right decision to postpone the opening of Ngong Ping Skyrail for a few weeks to allow time for more verification and testing,” said Mr Russell Black, Project Director of MTR Corporation.

“We understand this will cause some disappointment to visitors but it is of great

importance to the Corporation that when the system opens for public use, it would

provide an enjoyable experience to all of its visitors.”

“We have been assured that safety was never compromised during any of the problems encountered during trial operations and it should be emphasized that Ngong Ping Skyrail was built with proven technology and has been verified to be safe,” Mr Black added.