Latest news with #BernadetteLinn
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong private firms walking in the right direction
Connectivity can mean many things for a city. Often, a focus on technology and transport can overlook a very human need for people to get around easily on two feet in urban settings. So, Hong Kong authorities deserve credit for an incentive programme encouraging private firms to build pedestrian links to help make the city a better place to live. The initiative has earmarked 10 pedestrian footbridges and underpasses to improve walkability in bustling, densely populated areas including Kowloon East, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. Two projects are set to open next year. Participating companies are offered waivers on land premiums, the government fees developers must pay to modify land use when the change boosts property value. Revenue from land premiums is a significant source of government income, so the step was not one to take lightly. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho wrote in her blog on May 25 that the government was effectively 'leveraging market forces' by collaborating with the private sector to foster a 'more convenient, connected and high-quality walking environment'. Launched in 2016, the connectivity initiative's most recently completed project was the Two Queensway Bridge in Admiralty. It opened in late April to connect Pacific Place, Harcourt Garden, Admiralty MTR station, government headquarters and commercial buildings. Causeway Bay will see a project take shape in phases next year, with five footbridges and a sheltered path to divert pedestrians from the busy Yun Ping Road, Hysan Avenue, Pennington Street and Leighton Road. Another footbridge will open in mid-2026 in Kowloon Bay. A footbridge project will also commence next year to link two towers in the Kwun Tong district. Urban planners in many communities around the world have been criticised for prioritising traffic flows over walkability. Even cities with massive traffic problems, such as Manila, are introducing pedestrian areas that offer a place to escape chaos below. For decades, authorities in Hong Kong have been urged to think further ahead about ensuring pedestrians can move comfortably in high-density zones. The new initiative is a sign that positive change is afoot. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to get 10 pedestrian walkways in connectivity push
Private companies will build 10 pedestrian walkways in bustling parts of Hong Kong under an initiative aimed at improving connectivity in the city by offering land premium waivers, with two of the projects to open to the public next year. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Sunday that the 10 approved projects in the incentive programme were located in densely populated areas, including Kowloon East, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. 'The policy is a successful example of the government effectively leveraging market forces and collaborating with the private sector,' Linn said on her blog. 'The Development Bureau will continue to promote and make good use of the policy to encourage and support more private developers to fund and build footbridges or underpasses to provide a more convenient, connected and high-quality walking environment for the public.' The connectivity initiative, launched in 2016, provides land premium waivers to private sector companies that build pedestrian links, such as footbridges and underpasses. The Two Queensway Bridge, which opened in Admiralty in late April, is its most recent project. The bridge connects Pacific Place to Harcourt Garden, providing access to Admiralty MTR station and nearby facilities such as the Hong Kong government headquarters and commercial buildings. Swire Properties was responsible for designing, building, managing and maintaining the facility, which is open to the public around the clock.
RTHK
23-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Call to minimise fallout from builder's projects ban
A lawmaker says the government had "no choice" but to pull the plug on a major contractor in charge of several public construction projects, saying work-site safety must come first when renewing the registration of Wai-kwok, who represents the engineering sector, also said he hopes authorities would do their best to ensure that existing subcontractors and staff can stay on when projects being handled by the major contractor are passed on to new made the call following an announcement by Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn on Thursday that Aggressive Construction will be removed from the government's list of approved general building contractors from June firm was involved in multiple construction incidents between 2020 and 2023, resulting in five on RTHK's Hong Kong Today programme on Friday, Lo explained why it took the government years to make up its mind."The time taken seems to be quite long, but we have to understand that to deal with such an application is indeed not an easy task," he said."The Buildings Department and the Contractor Registration Committee had to verify all the data submitted and analyse the incidents and the track record of the company, their submission."And they have to interview the authorised signatories and the project directors these really take time and it's not an easy decision."Aggressive Construction has been given one month to wrap up its said the firm is in charge of six public projects, including four housing estates."This, unfortunately, will cause delays for these projects, but I think we've got no choice," he speed up the transition, the lawmaker expects the government to directly engage "trustworthy" contractors, instead of inviting interested firms to lodge tenders.
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong authorities to revoke contractor's licence over safety record
Authorities will revoke a Hong Kong construction company's operating licence next month due to safety concerns after three incidents involving five fatalities, including one in 2022 that killed three workers due to a fallen crane tower. Advertisement Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Thursday that Aggressive Construction Company would be removed from the government's registered list of contractors on June 20. 'From that day onwards, it cannot carry out any building works under the Buildings Ordinance,' she said. The company, a subsidiary of Great Harvest Group, attracted significant public attention when a 65-tonne tower crane collapsed at its construction site on Anderson Road in Kwun Tong in September 2022. The incident resulted in the deaths of three workers and left six others injured. Linn confirmed the company was in charge of six projects, including three public housing estates under the Housing Authority, the city's major public housing provider, as well as the construction of a government building in Chai Wan. Advertisement She said the authority and the government would strive to find a new contractor for the four projects in two months upon the expulsion of the company.
South China Morning Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Nod for law changes allowing small-scale harbour reclamation in Hong Kong
Legal amendments allowing small-scale reclamation in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour were passed on Wednesday with the support of most lawmakers, who called on the government to raise the public's awareness of the changes. Advertisement The second and third readings of the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill were held in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, who abstained from voting, argued that the changes would allow the government to vet its own proposals for reclamation. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said the new legislation could provide flexibility for the authorities to connect the harbourfront. She said administrative guidelines were being prepared and were expected to be completed in the next few months. Under the current legal framework, reclamation in the harbour is forbidden unless it is proven to have an 'overriding public need' supported by 'cogent and convincing materials'. The government deemed this too stringent for minor works intended to enhance the waterfront. Advertisement The Development Bureau's proposed changes will allow small-scale reclamation of 0.8 hectares or less, including for erecting specified structures designed to enhance the harbour, such as piers, boardwalks and moorings.
