6th February 2006
Dear Committee Members,
Regarding the LEGCO panel discussion on 9th Feb 2006 regarding the
central waterfront, we submit for your consideration that the proposal
fails completely and entirely to satisfy the needs and requirements for
a waterfront district. If planning in Hong Kong continues in this
piecemeal fashion, future generations will surely condemn those who
planned the Harbour without any respect for the human scale.
There must be a complete and concise plan for the entire harbour
district. Assessing part plans without taking a holistic view for the
entire harbour area is a dereliction of duty.
There is no need or requirement to locate more governmental
accommodation at the Tamar site. In fact one could easily argue that do
so is a complete waste of public resources, which as we are reminded so
often, are very scarce indeed.
It is particularly disturbing that the whole process is based solely on
a perceived traffic need, whilst other simpler and low cost options are
viable. It is clear that government has completely ignored the views of
the people, consultation is a dirty word that covers all manner of
sins, however what it does not mean is that the government can once
again ignore submitted views and carry on regardless. Adding more roads
has been proven to only increase traffic, whereas effective traffic
control measures for example road pricing and controlled scheduled for
commercial vehicles have been swept aside.
On behalf of the Hong Kong Sustainable Development Forum we submit to
the committee that supporting further road building is a futile
solution for traffic management in the central district. Furthermore
constructing governmental buildings on the Tamar site is a complete
waste of resources. The plan is clearly aimed for the convenience of a
few government staff, whilst the majority will suffer.
Where are the wide promenades and cafes that were promised, hidden
behind the new PLA berths perhaps?
In summary we urge the committee members to remember that planning the
central waterfront area is a complex proposition that will remain as a
monument or white elephant for a hundred years and must not be
undertaken lightly. Consultation does not mean canvassing for views and
then ignoring them entirely, today is the time to set out a better and
more sustainable future for Hong Kong.
yours faithfully,
Hong Kong Sustainable Development Forum
Mr John A. Herbert
Chairman
http://www.hksdf.org.hk