The Government has sought to preserve and further enhance Hong Kong's natural environment and heritage, of which our Harbour is the most prominent example, the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, said today (May 3).
Addressing the EnviroSeries Conference 2004 - Designing Hong Kong Harbour District organised by the Business Environment Council, Mr Suen said the Government realised the importance of a prudent balance between growth and conservation and pursued carefully planned growth in accordance with the principles of sustainable development to make our city a better place to live in.
"Our harbour has a finite area. We cannot keep on reclaiming it forever. Over the years, we have recognised this fact more and more strongly.
"We also acknowledge the need to return our harbour to the people - to give both citizens and visitors the unfettered access they need to enjoy its beauty to the full," he said.
The Government has made a public pledge that apart from the current Central Reclamation, the proposed Wan Chai North Development and Southeast Kowloon Development, there will be no further reclamation within Victoria Harbour in the future, Mr Suen said.
"We have begun implementing a series of programmes that demonstrate our commitment to protecting our Harbour. Our reclamation plans at Kowloon Point, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsuen Wan Bay and Green Island have all been dropped completely. What little that remain have been substantially modified. The extent of the Central Reclamation Phase III has been reduced from the original planned 32 hectares to 18," Mr Suen said.
Noting that the legal disputes in the past six months did not negate the Government's commitment on the harbour, Mr Suen said they had created an even greater recognition of its importance; and they have given us the benefit of a final and authoritative interpretation of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.
"They also re-affirmed Victoria Harbour's special status as a unique public asset, and a part of the natural heritage of Hong Kong and its people. They have focused everyone's minds more firmly on the need to protect the harbour. From now on any reclamation proposals will have to pass the 'overriding public need test', and it must be demonstrated that there are no reasonable alternatives to reclamation," Mr Suen said.
In addition, the Government recognises the importance of explaining its proposals to the public, and gauging their views. This has to be an ongoing process that starts at the early planning stage, then continues through various other key stages of the feasibility studies, and up to the point where the final decisions are made.
"In considering these remaining harbour development proposals, we are committed to engaging the community in a proactive way during the early stages of the review, and also throughout its entire process," Mr Suen said.
He noted that in the past few months, many people in the community had expressed their concerns about further reclamation. The Government recognises their sincerity, and appreciates their contributions.
"We are engaged in deepening this dialogue between the Government and community. We want to put past acrimony behind us and move forward in addressing the concerns that have been raised. As far as possible, we hope to achieve a consensus about the harbour's future with all the other stakeholders concerned - both individuals and organisations," Mr Suen said.
To this end, the Government has established the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee to achieve a common vision for enhancing the harbour. The overall goals for enhancement are to make the harbourfront symbolic, attractive, accessible and vibrant.
"Its Chairman and members have been appointed, and it will hold its first meeting in just a few days' time, on the 6th of May. It is particularly gratifying that concern groups, such as the Society for Protection of the Harbour, have agreed to participate in the committee and put their views forward in this forum," Mr Suen said.
"The Government will give its full backing to the committee, and we will take careful note of its discussions and recommendations. I look forward to the committee playing a key role in the reviews that we are undertaking, and in coming up with innovative ideas on how to deliver 'quick-win' harbourfront improvement projects in a sustainable manner.
"Through the joint efforts of the Government and the community, the remaining harbour development projects will help to make Hong Kong a much more pleasant city to live in and visit. They will give us a waterfront we can be more proud of than ever, one that is on a par with such acclaimed locations as Darling Harbour in Sydney, Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, and the Embankment in London," Mr Suen added.
Ends/Monday, May 3, 2004
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