WAY FORWARD
how Hong Kong can go forward in enhancing its proudest asset
establish a dedicated
HARBOUFRONT
AUTHORITY
establish a dedicated
HARBOUFRONT
AUTHORITY
continued pursuit of HARBOURFRONT
ENHANCEMENT
INITIATIVES
continued pursuit of HARBOURFRONT
ENHANCEMENT
INITIATIVES
proceed cautiously
with the development of
NEW CENTRAL HARBOUFRONT
proceed cautiously
with the development of
NEW CENTRAL HARBOUFRONT
Continued Pursuit of
Harbourfront Enhancement Initiatives
In the past decade, various harbourfront enhancement initiatives (all undertaken by the government, except for the Avenue of Stars project) have been completed. These projects are well-received by the general public, and has played the important function of reconnecting citizens and tourists to the harbourfront. Going forward, the Government must tirelessly pursue harbourment enhancement initiatives to make the most out of our iconic harbourfront.
Establishing a Dedicated
Harbourfront Authority
The existing rule-based management framework is not conducive to creative designs and poses constraints in achieving a truly vibrant waterfront with diversified activities. There has long been anticipation for a dedicated statutory authority to take forward harbourfront enhancement from planning, design and construction to operation and management.
In this connection, the Harbourfront Commission(HC) has proposed the establishment of a Harbourfront Authority with its own financial resources and mission. A two-phase Public Engagement Exercise has been completed in 2014, and the idea was well-received by the public. A report detailing the operational framework of the proposed HFA has also been submitted to the Government.
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Although Carrie Lam, the current Chief Executive, has decided to shelve this proposal and rely on district-based bodies to overlook harbourfront development, our team has the view that having a one-stop, independent Harbourfront Authority remains the best way to realise our harbour planning vision.
To learn more about the Harbourfront Authority proposed by the Harbourfront Committee, click on the following links:
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Final Report on the Proposed Establishment of a Harbourfront Authority in Hong Kong
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SCMP News Article: Carrie Lam changes plan for HK$10 billion waterfront authority (13 Oct 2017)
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Proceed Cautiously with the Development of
New Central Harbourfront
The New Central Harbourfront will be the centrepiece of Hong Kong​. Site 3 of the harbourfront, which spans the area from the General Post Office to the present-day Star Ferry Pier, will be developed with low-rise buildings of office and retail.
Under the common practice, Site 3 will be allocated to the highest bidder, whereas the developer will have to submit a master plan based on the planning brief for the TPB’s approval. There are, however, no design guidelines in place to ensure that the buildings will actually be high quality, remarkable or interesting. To this end, we argue that a 'double-envelope' tendering process--in which bidders first compete based on their design then on the bidding price--shall be adopted for the tendering of Site 3.
See the article for the discourses on the New Central Harbourfront:
Area and key sites of the New Central Harbourfront (click here for full-size map)
(Map by Planning Department)
Our Harbour,
Our Say
The Victoria Harbour is a very valuable natural asset for Hong Kong. While the power to plan for the harbourfront areas is vested in the Government, we as the citizens must always keep abreast of the related development plans and tirelessly engage in discussions over the future of Victoria Harbour.
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Recently, former student leader Lester Shum filed a judicial review against the People's Liberal Army dock plan for the new Central Harbourfront, which was approved by the Town Planning Board back in 2014 (learn more here).
Whether you support the TPB decision is a matter of perspective (if you wish to sign an online petition against the decision, the link is provided below), yet the bottom line is that we should all keep track of the latest discourses on the future of Victoria Harbour and have our own stance--because Victoria Harbour matters for you and me and the generations to come.
Link to the online partition "Stop the transfer of permanent jurisdiction over the Central Waterfront to the PLA"