A preliminary list of sustainability indicators will be worked out for further discussion and endorsement by the public under the public engagement exercise "Harbour-front Enhancement Review (HER) - Wan Chai and Adjoining Areas" launched on January 23, Chairman of the Sub-committee on Wan Chai Development Phase II Review (WDII Review) of the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee (HEC), Mr Leung Kong-yui, said at a press conference today (January 25).
The Government has accepted the recommendation by the HEC's Sub-committee on WDII Review that an enhanced public engagement should be adopted in the course of the WDII Review. To achieve this, the HER project will be carried out under the steer of the Sub-committee on WDII Review in parallel with the WDII Review. Results of the HER project will provide input to the WDII Review.
"The objectives of the HER project are to achieve a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable harbour-front at Wan Chai and adjoining areas and to satisfy the planning, transport and infrastructural needs while ensuring that the WDII project complies with the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance," Mr Leung said.
"The three possibilities contained in the printed consultation digest 'Harbour-front Enhancement Review - Wan Chai and Adjoining Areas: Public Engagement Kit' are concepts, not proposals. They are devised to stimulate public discussion," Mr Leung said.
Members of the sub-committee also attending the press conference believed public engagement was vital to build a harbour-front for public enjoyment and the HER project was designed for this purpose. It was hoped that a consensus could be reached.
The sub-committee will organise a roundtable meeting on February 5. Interested parties, especially those which have expressed views in public in the past few days, will be invited.
The HER project is made up of three stages - the "Envisioning", "Realisation", and "Detailed Planning" Stages. The purpose of the "Envisioning" Stage is to engage the community at an early stage to solicit their "visions" on the types of harbour-front developments they aspire for at Wan Chai and the adjoining areas, while acknowledging the opportunities available and the constraints for development.
To ensure an open and inclusive engagement process, a number of organisations will be invited to take part in the HER project as collaborators. They include the relevant District Councils, community groups, business groups, green groups as well as academic and professional institutions.
Ends/Tuesday, January 25, 2005
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