Public consultation on the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) closes today (June 30).
The consultation exercise, which started on December 16 last year, lasted for more than six months. To promote public understanding and encourage discussion, the Government and the proponents staged an exhibition of the three screened-in proposals at the Hong Kong Science Museum, followed by the Hong Kong City Hall and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum during the consultation period. More than 10 smaller-scale regional exhibitions were also organised.
The Government organised a number of open discussion forums involving the public, district personalities, arts and cultural groups and relevant professional bodies. At the invitation of interested parties and community groups, government representatives also participated in a variety of forums to discuss the development of the WKCD.
The screened-in proposals were presented to Members of the Legislative Council, the Town Planning Board, the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee, etc. The Administration also consulted the 18 District Councils (DC) to solicit the views of DC members on the WKCD development.
During the public consultation period, more than 251,000 visits to the WKCD exhibition have been recorded and more than 33,100 comment cards and 480 written submissions have been received by the Government.
A Government spokesman said that from the statistical figures, the public consultation exercise had received an enthusiastic response. "The Government will give careful considerations to the views collected before making a decision on the next step of the WKCD development," he said.
"The independent academic research institute commissioned by the Government to conduct telephone polls and analyse views collected in the consultation exercise will submit its report to the Government later. We will publish the report for public information," the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, results of the second lucky draw for those submitting their comment cards between March 29 and June 30, 2005, will be published on July 15, 2005 in the South China Morning Post, Sing Tao Daily and on the WKCD website (www.hplb.gov.hk/wkcd). Each winner will be awarded a one-year "Leisure and Cultural Services Department Museum Pass".
Ends/Thursday, June 30, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:47
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