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1. Ex-judge blasts 'lies' on land reclamation

1. Ex-judge blasts 'lies' on land reclamation
WINNIE YEUNG, SCMP 14 November 2005

A former High Court judge yesterday accused the government of lying and only pleasing developers in its reclamation policies.

He spoke out as 10,000 people took part in two events with the harbour as their theme.

Simon Li Fook-sean, 83, made a rare public appearance at the closing carnival of Harbour Week in Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai.

After calling the government's position despicable two years ago, Mr Li was again in a hard-hitting mood. The government "obviously chooses to please property developers", he said, referring to its proposed commercial and office development on the new Central reclamation.

He said officials disregarded public opinion and nothing would change "unless all Legco members did something drastic like resigning - but then how would that ever happen?"

Mr Li said: "The government always tells you what they would do to improve the waterfront. But when have they done anything at all? The government is a liar and they have cheated the public."

The event was organised by the Society for Protection of the Harbour, Action Group on Protection of the Harbour and Friends of the Harbour. They hoped a show of people power would persuade the government to abandon its plan to build a new headquarters at the ?Tamar site and shopping malls on reclaimed land in Central.

About 5,000 people turned out for the closing carnival, with a pop concert and a forum to criticise the government's reclamation plans. Also attending were legislators from various political camps, including Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, Lee Wing-tat and Choy So-yuk.

Former talk-show hosts Wong Yuk-man and Albert Cheng King-hon, now a legislator, held the forum.

A crowd of 5,000 people showed up earlier in the day to take part in Harbour Day, an event supported by the government.

It included 180 boats competing in the annual Around the Island Race organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, followed by helicopter rescue demonstrations by the Government Flying Services, a boat parade and helicopter rides for 43 young cancer patients.

Society for Protection of the Harbour founder Winston Chu Ka-sun - who had expected 10,000 people to show up for the close of Harbour Week - said he was disappointed at the turnout.

He revealed the society had held talks with the yacht club - a partner of the Harbour Day's organising committee - in May on the possibility of an activity to promote harbour protection, but he claimed the club said it did not want to damage its relationship with the government.