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1. Roundup of scaffolding collapse in Tsim Sha Tsui

2. Tsim Sha Tsui accident under investigation

3. A Shared Responsibility on Environment

4. Speed urged on new convention centre

5. Emperor to spend $300m on plaza

6. Court challenge to park plan

7. Law on rural houses to be reviewed

8. Zhuhai bridge study tipped within 3 months

9. Ecological fears over bridge dismissed

10. Disney puts the brakes on theme park for Shanghai

11. Exhibition centre to be scaled down

12. Port on target for a container record

13. One dead, 16 hurt as scaffolding crashes down

1. Roundup of scaffolding collapse in Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong Government, 9 December 2002

A man died and 16 others were injured in the scaffolding collapse outside a hotel at 70 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui this (December 9) afternoon.

It was earlier reported that people were trapped in the collapsed scaffolding, but after a thorough search firemen confirmed that no one had been trapped under the debris.

The injured included 12 men and five women aged between 25 and 53. Nine were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, including a 29-year-old man who was certified dead. Eight others were sent to Kwong Wah Hospital.

Of the 16 injured, one was in critical condition, three serious and eight stable. Four injured persons were treated and discharged.

2. Tsim Sha Tsui accident under investigation
Hong Kong Government, 9 December 2002

Officers of the Labour Department's Occupational Safety Operations Division are now investigating the serious accident which happened at Inter-Continental Grand Standford Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, this afternoon (December 9). One worker died and seventeen were injured in the accident.

"We will institute prosecution if the investigation reveals any circumstance that contravenes the provisions of the relevant safety regulations," a department spokesman said.

"Officers of the Employees' Compensation Division of the department have gone to the hospitals to explain to the workers and their families the application procedure and details of compensation for work injuries and fatality under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. The officers will also provide any necessary assistance."

"In addition, we have set up an enquiry hotline 2852 3705 for the workers and their families to enquire on compensation for work injuries," he noted.

3. A Shared Responsibility on Environment
HKHA Press Release, 8 December 2002

The Housing Authority is committed to reinforcing the support and contributions from its stakeholders in environmental protection and will continue to encourage, influence, guide and work with them to meet the shared environmental challenge.

In this connection, "Our Environment - A Shared Responsibility" is chosen as the theme for the Authority’s Environmental Report for this year, which will be published later this month. It outlines the environmental performance of the Authority in the year 2001/2002 through collective participation and contribution from all the stakeholders, and the Authority’s commitments in environmental protection and resource conservation through various initiatives.

"Our achievements are not ours alone," said the Deputy Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing), Mr. Marco Wu, who is also the Chairman of the Housing Department’s Environmental Committee, "Our residents, business partners, green groups, organizations in the community and other government departments have all played an important role in shaping our environmental performance."

"We have set 91 targets in the year 2000/01. It is double the number of the year before and we have fully met or substantially completed 83 of them", Mr Wu added.

Contractors and residents have made respective contributions in conserving natural resources and reducing waste on their front. By using metal hoardings, metal formwork and prefabricated building elements, about 63,000 tonnes of timber were saved in construction sites in the past year. Pulverised Fuel Ash as cement replacement saved about 31,000 tonnes of cement, with a further saving of 36,000 tonnes anticipated in the coming year by wider application.

In public housing estates, residents generated about 13% less domestic refuse than the previous year. Recovery rates of waste paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles for recycling also improved.

To provide a green living environment and foster community awareness, extensive tree planting, landscaping and green slope treatment works were carried out. 50 slopes in existing public rental estates were greened. The Authority has also worked with green groups to arrange environmental awareness activities for residents.

The Environmental Procurement Policy, which enables the Authority to influence its contractors, service providers and suppliers to operate in an environmentally responsible way, has begun implementation in all business branches of the Housing Department. "We are now developing specifications, contractual requirements and assessment criteria on performance, and refining tender evaluation system." Mr. Wu said.

Mr Wu said that the Authority has developed new initiatives and will continue on-going work for those already in place for the coming years.

For example, the Authority will continue to explore with contractors ways to reduce noise nuisance from construction activities, including the use of hydraulic jacked piles and hydraulic crushers.

Other initiatives include reducing water wastage and waste produced in construction works, making building services installations in estates quieter and more energy efficient and increasing environmental friendliness of building designs and materials.

4. Speed urged on new convention centre
Keith Wallis, The Standard 10 December 2002

Legislators were warned yesterday that Hong Kong was running out of time to decide whether to invest HK$2 billion in the first phase of a new 100,000-square-metre exhibition centre at Chek Lap Kok airport.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse said that winning funding approval in 10 days was critical to be able to appoint a private sector partner and build the complex to meet the planned 2005 opening date. This has been chosen because it is forecast the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will reach saturation and have to refuse new business.

It is also believed there will be advantages opening the exhibition centre at the same time as the first phase of the Disney theme park.

Rowse said that if the government failed to secure funding at the December 20 finance committee meeting then it would not only derail the project but affect Hong Kong's international standing.

``It really is the last chance saloon. If there is a long delay now we lose momentum, lose credibility and we lose the synergistic benefits,'' he said.

Rowse confirmed the cost of the 60,000-square-metre first phase was HK$2.41 billion. He said government investment would be capped at HK$2 billion even though development of the entire 100,000-square-metre complex was estimated at HK$4 billion.

The government has already shortlisted four private sector groups to bid for the project and plans to invite tenders by the end of February ready to appoint a successful venture in April. But officials can only meet this timetable if funding is approved next week. Rowse said the government had already lobbied legislators extensively to win their backing. ``We will do it again until the vote on December 20, he said.

He was speaking after briefing members of the commerce and industry panel when he revealed the government and the Airport Authority could take up to a combined 90 per cent stake in the project.

Initially, the government said the exhibition centre would be a 50:50 joint venture with a private sector group, but revised the shareholding following discussions with potential investors.

Rowse said that if investors contribute too large a slice of capital this would be reflected in leasing charges which may make the complex too expensive to properly compete with other facilities in the region.

Under the terms of the competition, the four bidders will be asked to bid for the development of the 60,000-square-metre first phase complex and contribute at least 15 per cent in equity.

He indicated that all but one of the bidders have a turnkey capability that includes design, construction, finance, operation, management and promotion of exhibition centres.

The fourth has a design partner, but no construction firm on board.

Industrial sector legislator Dr Lui Ming-wah said there should be open tenders to increase competition and help reduce costs.

However, Rowse said the contest between the four groups already ensured there was competition.

Rowse said that the inclusion of designers and contractors in the bidding groups ensured the single-floor complex would be better suited to exhibitions and be built with possibly lower operating costs than the multi-floored glass and marble convention centre extension.

5. Emperor to spend $300m on plaza
Eli Lau, The Standard 10 December 2002

Emperor International Holdings plans to spend up to HK$300 million developing a shopping plaza for Repulse Bay beach visitors.

The project will be located at 26-30 Beach Road, formerly the Lido shopping plaza building, which was bought by the group for about HK$200 million in 1994.

It is understood the group decided to redevelop the site due to lower-than-expected rental returns from the plaza.

Sources said yesterday the group was studying five proposals for the site and was likely to reach a decision within a month.

``The five proposals are all based on a shopping plaza development but with a different commercial mixture,'' the sources said. ``Catering business will probably occupy the largest proportion along with retail shops.''

The project budget would be between HK$200 million and HK$300 million, they said.

Despite the beach area being officially recommended as a prime tourism spot, the group has no intention to redevelop the premises into hotel due to the relatively small size of the site.

Demolition works are in progress and the entire redevelopment is expected to completed by 2005.

The 45,532-square-foot site is estimated to produce 77,565 sq ft of gross floor area but that would vary for the different development proposals. Emperor would own 70 per cent of the redevelopment and no land premium was required as the land use designation would not be changed.

In October, the group reportedly tendered for the Park Hotel at Tsim Sha Tsui, which was won by Laws Properties with a tender price of HK$550 million.

Emperor is expected to launch its residential project at No 82 Chung Hom Kok Road shortly as it is only waiting for the issue of an occupation permit. Another residential development, at Tai Po Town Lot No 165, would be launched for sale next year.

Emperor shares closed at 29 HK cents yesterday, up 0.05 per cent.

6. Court challenge to park plan
Keith Wallis, The Standard 10 December 2002

Officials will face court action from harbour preservationists after last Friday's decision by the Town Planning Board to approve the second phase of the Wan Chai reclamation.

Society for Protection of the Harbour chairman Winston Chu told The Standard last night the group would apply for a judicial review of the board's decision and the government's plans.

He said the society still needed to formulate its strategy, including whether to enlist support from other conservationists, but ``we will be definitely taking action against the government''.

The board approved the reclamation plans, including a controversial scheme for a 400-metre-long, two-hectare harbour park offshore of the main waterfront, despite receiving more than 700 objections. Legislators are also united against the harbour park plans.

Chu said: ``I need to make use of this opportunity to test the harbour protection ordinance.''

The ordinance assumes a presumption against harbour reclamation except for essential public infrastructure such as road and rail links.

Part of the 30-hectare Wan Chai second phase includes land for the Central-Wan Chai bypass, the North Island line extension to the Mass Transit Railway and the Sha Tin to Central railway.

The project not only includes the park, but commercial buildings, including a hotel or office block and the third phase of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

7. Law on rural houses to be reviewed
Michael Ng, The Standard 10 December 2002

The government will enact a clear policy on small house grants within five years to prevent an unlimited number of permits being issued to indigenous villagers to build small houses in rural areas, Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen said yesterday.

During the Legislative Council's public hearing on the Audit Report yesterday, Suen said as the number of indigenous villagers eligible for small houses continued to surge - 240,000 were now eligible - the amount of rural land could never adequately meet all these demands.

``If we add all land in indigenous villages, the land which ranged inside 300 feet from their ancestral houses, and all those newly developed land near all these villages, the sum still could not satisfy all these demands,'' he said.

But Suen rejected a suggestion by lawmakers that the plot ratio for small houses be relaxed, saying the sewage, transport and planning systems would not be able to cope.

Suen said he had already initiated negotiations with the Heung Yee Kuk, the general advisory body of rural villages, to discuss the issue.

``Instead of only amending one or two particular problems, it would be better for us to conduct a general review of this issue,'' he said.

The Audit Report released last month said some indigenous villagers were abusing the small house grants mechanism by selling their premises to third parties after the removal of the restriction on alienation.

But Lam Kwok-cheong, an ex-officio executive councillor of Heung Yee Kuk, said existing laws on small house grants should not be amended or abolished.

``Even though the number of indigenous villagers is growing, we don't mind if there is not enough land. We would not extend our land demands to urban areas,'' he said. ``So people should not be over-worried.''

The kuk's vice-chairman, Daniel Lam, suggested the government ought to relax the height restrictions on village houses and amend the plot ratio so that more indigenous villagers could be accommodated on each piece of land. He did not indicate how many storeys buildings should be.

8. Zhuhai bridge study tipped within 3 months
Michael Ng, The Standard 10 December 2002

Preliminary environmental assessment reports on the impact of building the massive Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge are expected to be ready within three months, a Guangdong official said yesterday.

Provincial Director of Environmental Protection Yuan Zheng said there was no certainty the project would damage the environment, but officials wanted to be sure it did not, adding that Guangdong had commissioned independent experts to conduct preparatory work on the environmental impact assessment.

All mainland infrastructure projects required such an assessment and the HK$15 billion bridge to link Hong Kong with the western Pearl River Delta was no exception, according to Yuan.

``We are not directly involved [in the assessment]. The study is being conducted by some independent environmental assessment groups,'' he said after attending an environmental symposium at the Chinese University.

Guangdong governor Lu Ruihua said last week the mainland and Hong Kong governments should be prudent in assessing the environmental risks.

Meanwhile, Macau chief executive Edmund Ho said he believed the project would eventually be approved.

``We support all proposals which are beneficial to the transport network of the Greater Pearl River Delta,'' he said before leaving for Beijing for a duty visit.

But Ho said the final plan for the bridge, which would run from north of Tai O on Lantau to Macau and Zhuhai, should incorporate the views and interests of all parties.

``It should not be implemented in a hurry,'' he said.

9. Ecological fears over bridge dismissed
CHEUNG CHI-FAI, SCMP 10 December 2002

A bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau would not pose serious ecological and environmental problems to the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong's environmental chief said yesterday.

Yuan Zheng said the proposal was still being studied by the province's transport department.

Mr Yuan, director-general of the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau, said: "Preliminary environmental assessment has been done, but more detailed studies are needed once the project gets the go-ahead."

Last week, Guangdong Governor Lu Ruihua said there were ecological problems with the proposal. It is understood the provincial authorities fear the project might affect the tidal flow in the Pearl River Delta and that cities upstream could face an increased flooding risk.

But Mr Yuan, speaking after an environmental conference at the Chinese University yesterday, said construction of the Humen Bridge, which crosses the Pearl River estuary linking Dongguan and Panyu, showed that the impact on the water flow was minimal.

"There is bound to be some impact on the water environment. We have to find ways to minimise and mitigate the impact. But there are differences between the two projects. I think that there should not be a big problem with the Zhuhai bridge."

Mr Yuan expected it would take more than three months to complete a detailed environmental impact assessment.

He believed a new environmental protection law on the mainland - passed by the National People's Congress in October - would only have a limited impact.

"The new law will not affect the approval of the project because there are already similar regulations in the mainland," he said.

The law, which clearly states the need for assessment in major planning and projects, will take effect on September 1 next year.

10. Disney puts the brakes on theme park for Shanghai
SANDY LI, SCMP 10 December 2002

Walt Disney has decided against opening a theme park in Shanghai for at least eight years.

Analysts said the move by the US entertainment giant reflected Beijing's desire to protect Hong Kong's $22 billion Disneyland from a direct challenge. Tourism and hotel industry leaders welcomed the decision.

Walt Disney Asia-Pacific announced yesterday that "in all likelihood, a second park in China would not open before 2010".

It did not expand on its terse announcement, which appears to contradict its earlier market forecasts that a Shanghai venture could open shortly after Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005 or 2006.

The announcement added: "Our immediate focus is on breaking ground for our first theme park in China in January 2003. We plan to open Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005/06."

Irene Chan, Disney Asia Pacific's head of communications for Asia, said the timetable for the expansion plans was realistic.

"It is the first time we have given a timeframe [for the China programme] . . . I do not think there is anything special about it. We will continue our discussion with China to look for a potential second park," she said.

However, Daiwa Institute of Research (Hong Kong) senior economist Xiao Mingjie said: "It looks like political consideration will delay or even scuttle Walt Disney's proposed project in Shanghai. Beijing must have asked Shanghai to slow down the negotiations with Walt Disney . . . to protect Hong Kong's interest."

He also believed the SAR government must have lobbied Beijing because it was widely expected that a theme park would open in Shanghai in 2006.

Disney's statement came just a day after its rival Universal Parks & Resorts, the theme park unit of Vivendi Universal SA, signed an agreement with the Shanghai municipal government to build a US$1 billion (HK$7.8 billion) theme park in Pudong.

The group said its first Universal Studios theme park in China, scheduled to open in 2006, would attract eight million visitors.

Legislator Howard Young, who represents the tourism sector, said: "It [Disney's move] was a sensible decision because having two Disney projects so close to each other certainly will cause direct competition."

But he warned that Hong Kong should not stop improving its competitiveness by strengthening its tourist attractions.

"We can also attract Disney-MGM Studios to come to Hong Kong," he said.

Hong Kong Hotels Association vice-president Dan Lee said: "Hong Kong will benefit from this decision."

The Hong Kong Tourism Board said: "China is a huge country with room for more than one park."

A spokesman reiterated that tourists from Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand would be interested in visiting Hong Kong's Disneyland.

11. Exhibition centre to be scaled down
ANNETTE CHIU, SCMP 10 December 2002

The majority of the construction costs of the proposed International Exhibition Centre near Chek Lap Kok airport is to be shouldered by the government.

The administration is seeking $2 billion in funding from the Legislative Council for the 645,835 sq ft scaled down project, which will cost about $2.41 billion.

Private developers will take a minimum equity contribution equal to 15 per cent of the total construction fee, meaning the government may need to shoulder 85 per cent of the cost, the Legco commerce and industry panel heard yesterday.

The government and the Airport Authority were initially planning for a 1.07 million sq ft exhibition centre on Lantau with a budget of $4 billion, which was planned to be equally shared by the government and private investment.

Mike Rowse, director-general of Invest Hong Kong, said the present proposal was "cleaner and neater".

The initial stage of the project was scaled down after feedback from private consortia indicated the centre should initially occupy a smaller area and be expanded when demand increased.

Mr Rowse said the centre would bring great economic benefit to Hong Kong when it was completed by the end of 2005, and it was justifiable for the government to shoulder the majority of the cost.

A larger slice of government investment could ensure a competitive price was offered by the centre, thus attracting more exhibitors while a slim private stake could guarantee an efficient construction cost.

"We want to retain a small private investment for the incentive of the consortium, which can help drive down construction costs and increase efficiency," Mr Rowse said.

The government has shortlisted four consortia which showed interest in financing, design, construction, management and operating the project. If the Legco Finance Committee approves the funding on December 20, the project will be opened for tender in the first quarter of the new year.

Mr Rowse said the proposed centre would be a one-storey construction. There would be a degree of competition between the new building and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

"Partly, we said the relationship will be complementary. The new facility will be able to do things that the existing one can't. But partly there will be some overlap. The new centre will certainly have a braking effect on the lease rate charge of the HKCEC. The new centre will be priced at a lower level than the existing one," he said.

12. Port on target for a container record
RUSSELL BARLING, SCMP 10 December 2002

Hong Kong is on track for a world record in the movement of shipping containers.

A boom in mainland trade in the second half of the year and continued congestion at facilities across the border have driven third-quarter volumes to new levels.

More than 5.3 million containers were handled at the port in the three months to September 30 - 9 per cent up on comparative volume for last year. So far this year, movements, or throughput, of 20ft containers reached almost 14.1 million, up 5 per cent, putting the port on track to easily surpass the world record of 18.1 million set in 2000.

"Normally the slack season arrives by mid-October, but this year it extended to mid-November," said an executive for a European shipping line.

"What was more remarkable is that demand was soft for only one week and now it looks like the pre-Lunar New Year rush has started."

Based on the present growth rates, the port would handle 18.7 million containers this year, but some experts think that it could even eclipse the 19 million mark.

"It is expected the growth momentum will continue through the fourth quarter," said Raymond Fan Wai-ming, secretary for the Port and Maritime Board.

13. One dead, 16 hurt as scaffolding crashes down
CLIFFORD LO, SCMP 10 December 2002

A worker died and 16 were injured when a 50-metre-high section of scaffolding crashed down from a Tsim Sha Tsui East hotel yesterday.

Some workers clung to bamboo poles as the structure, covering 16 floors, fell away from the InterContinental Grand Stanford.

Hung Chi-mang, 29, a father of a four-year-old girl, was declared dead on arrival at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Last night, a 49-year-old worker was listed in a critical condition in Queen Elizabeth Hospital and another two men and a woman were in a serious condition in Kwong Wah Hospital. Five other workers were in stable condition and the others were discharged after treatment.

The drama started about 2pm, just after 36 workers returned to the Mody Road work site after lunch.

Police said the scaffolding on the four walls of the internal courtyard of the hotel stretched from the second to the 18th floor and had been put in place three days ago for renovations.

Some workers said they were unable to clamber away from the collapsing section because they were fastened with safety ropes.

A 34-year-old woman worker who had been removing debris above the 10th floor said: "My mind went blank when the scaffolding collapsed. The only thing I could do was to grab one of the bamboo poles tightly. The whole scaffolding collapsed within two minutes."

The Fire Services Department's Kowloon South Divisional commander, Li Hung-sum, said the entire scaffolding had collapsed on to the second-floor podium when firefighters arrived.

No hotel guests or hotel employees were injured.

Officers of the Labour Department's Occupational Safety Operations Division are investigating the collapse. They promised to prosecute anyone found to have broken safety regulations.

Chan Kam-hong, spokesman of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, said he had raised the issue of high construction work with the Labour Department two months ago.

He said there were 23 fatal construction site accidents in the first 10 months of this year - with 14 related to work at height.

"I want to call on the Labour Department to immediately begin its promotion and education campaign, especially pursuing tougher prosecutions against the law-breaking employers," he said.