Press Releases

Stakeholders Poll Results:
Integrated Planning Review for Harbour District

(March 26, 2004, Friday) HONG KONG ---- Designing Hong Kong Harbour District (DHKHD) today announced poll results from two stakeholder roundtable events which show strong support for an integrated planning review for the harbour district as a whole.

“There is a very clear and strong voice from key stakeholders calling for a review of the existing planning process for the harbour, which should be designed and planned as an integrated district, and not on a project-based approach,” said Paul Zimmerman, chief co-ordinator and founder of DHKHD.

“The government should listen to this voice with an open mind. We deeply regret that the present dispute over CRIII has to be taken to the Court of Final Appeal in order to hold further government works. We believe that only through an integrated review embracing the entire harbour district, as well as transport works, can the community have the opportunity to consider whether there is any ‘overriding public need’ for further reclamation,” remarked Mr. Zimmerman.

“The terms of reference for the Harbourfront Advancement Advisory Committee should so reflect a holistic and integrated approach in planning a world-class harbour district for Hong Kong,” he added.

Short polls were conducted during two stakeholder luncheon events early March. Both poll results show overwhelming support (100% and 95%) for an integrated planning for the harbour district. 70% of respondents in the second poll agreed that the government should not proceed with CRIII without presenting it to Town Planning Board for review.

In attendance at the luncheons were key stakeholders, opinion leaders and decision makers from the government, business and civic sectors, among them: senior government officials, senior management from leading businesses, LegCo members, professionals, academics, chief editors and representatives from environment and conservation groups.

A full report of the poll results is available upon request.


For press enquiries, please contact:
Ms Loretta Chang, 2234 6424 / 6446 1513, loretta@bbluesky.com
Ms Edith Wong, 2234 6424 / 9261 8574, edith@bbluesky.com

About “Designing Hong Kong Harbour District”

Using the name, “Hong Kong Harbour District”, to embrace Victoria Harbour, the harbour front and surrounding districts on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, the Initiative calls for an integrated plan and public consultation process for the entire Hong Kong Harbour District. The objective is to identify consensus on actionable principles for sustainable planning. The initiative is an open invitation for individuals and parties from the government, business, professional, academic and community groups to partake in the consensus-building process.

Organizers
Business Environment Council
The Experience Group
GML Consulting

Advisors
Planning Department, Hong Kong SAR
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Creative Initiatives Foundation

EnviroSeries Conference & Seminars 3 - 7 May, 2004
Sponsors: Gammon Skanska Limited, Island Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, The Swire Group, The Wharf (Holdings) Limited. Organizer: Business Environment Council

Our growing list of supporters
American Chamber of Commerce, Australian Chamber of Commerce, AGC Design, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Civic Exchange, Clear the Air, Fairmont Shipping, Friends of the Harbour, Fringe Club, Green Lantau Association, Hongkong Land, Jones Lang LaSalle, Living Islands Movement, MF Jebsen International, Quamnet, Save Kai Tak Campaign, Save our Shorelines, Society for Protection of the Harbour, Sunday Communications, Albert Cheng, Erwin Hardy.

Media Sponsor

Project Information
www.friendsoftheharbour.org