11 government departments, private owners must agree for Hong Kong waterfront development
The proposed transformation of an old Hong Kong neighbourhood into a world-class waterfront in the style of Australia's Darling Harbour will require major cooperation among at least 11 government departments and agreement from private owners, officials have said.
Advertisement
The 798-hectare (1,972-acre) project was announced by Urban Renewal Authority managing director Wai Chi-sing
on Sunday , with a study to explore developing To Kwa Wan in Kowloon and its surrounding waters into a top notch destination.
'The real challenge is the implementation, because the proposal actually involves [cooperation among] quite different departments and policy bureaus,' Harbourfront Commission chairman Ivan Ho Man-yiu said on Monday.
'It is important to reach a consensus inside the government,' he added, citing Kai Tak Sports Park, the Marine Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department, Transport Department and Environmental Protection Department.
Ho said that Kai Tak Sports Park should also be considered one of the project's stakeholders, as any events at To Kwa Wan's typhoon shelter could impact the sports facility's operations.
All proposed activities on the water body in the typhoon shelter, such as converting barges into floating restaurants, would have to be approved by the Marine Department, he explained.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Cooperation with new liaison office chief key in challenging times
A good relationship with the central government is of paramount importance as Hong Kong charts a new direction under the governance model of 'one country, two systems'. The appointment of Zhou Ji as the latest director of the liaison office marks another stage for both sides to cultivate closer communication and cooperation in accordance with principles laid out under the Basic Law, which is essential if the city is to maximise its potential and achieve more under the new national development framework. Zhou is the third Beijing envoy in five years. The former executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) has replaced Zheng Yanxiong, who succeeded Luo Huining after the former provincial party leader of Shanxi finished his three-year stint at the liaison office in 2023. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he was confident the new director would lead the liaison office in its continued cooperation with the Hong Kong government on promoting the city's proactive alignment with national strategies, creating fresh momentum and advantages for economic development, encouraging transition from stability to prosperity through innovation and invention, and making a further contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Lee also praised Zheng for upholding the one country, two systems principle in safeguarding national security and maintaining constitutional order. Zhou wasted no time in his new role, having met Lee twice and reached out to local groups and residents over the past few days. Lee said the district visits underlined the importance attached to people's livelihoods and the revamped district administration. His exchange with Zhou had also helped maintain good communication with Beijing and formulate good policies. For his part, Zhou stressed the chief executive and his team bear primary responsibility for the city's governance, in a welcome assurance over its 'high degree of autonomy' and the principle of 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong'. Zhou had rich experience in handling economic and livelihood issues when he served in Hubei and Henan. His connections with the HKMAO and knowledge of city affairs also make him an ideal choice.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's officials scramble to comply with Xi's austerity rules as inspectors come knocking
As Elon Musk 's so-called Department of Government Efficiency was shaking up federal agencies in America with deep spending cuts, bureaucrats in China were also feeling the heat. Since mid-March, thousands of Chinese officials have been scrambling to comply with President Xi Jinping 's austerity orders – making sure their offices are modest, their meal receipts are in order and returning any lavish gifts – as inspectors carry out checks. The campaign has been running since 2012 and takes aim at overspending among Communist Party and government bodies. It covers spending and protocol in areas ranging from official events to buildings and travel, with the goals of improving the ruling party's image, stamping out corruption and cutting wasteful spending. Analysts say it also has to do with making sure 'every cent' is spent wisely so that China can prevail in its rivalry with the United States. It is also seen as a way to find promising cadres who follow the rules and show political loyalty, and could be candidates for promotion. But questions have been raised over the effectiveness of the campaign given the strict control over the media in China and with no independent watchdog, as well as the difficulty of enforcing its detailed rules on a vast scale.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Get elderly housing right and Hong Kong's silver economy can take off
Hong Kong's Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing has announced dozens of measures to promote the 'silver economy' and address the needs of the city's ageing population. These cover five main areas : boosting consumption, developing tailor-made products, promoting quality assurance of 'silver' products, strengthening financial and insurance protection, and encouraging older residents to re-enter the job market. These are all good intentions, but it also begs the question: where is the infrastructure needed to support the measures? An important part of this is suitable housing and a community that encourages ageing Hongkongers to live well and be productive for as long as they would like to be. In 2015, the Housing Society built The Tanner Hill development for aged living, offering world-class facilities. The flats are well-designed, with clever use of compact space, and come with safety measures like grab bars and anti-slip bathroom mats, plus access to user-supported cooking facilities. The premises include clinics offering both Western and Chinese medicines, a library, restaurant, swimming pool, gym and access to services like banking, plus seats in the common lifts. It would be a no-brainer to house outlets there to offer 'silver products' to this exclusive community. But what about those of less modest means? Perhaps we can consider a hybrid living model. Hong Kong could design such a housing estate in three parts. One section of flats could be fitted out with facilities aimed at independent living for senior residents. This would cater to those who want their privacy while maintaining access to medical support, including silver products and services as needed. NGOs could help.
