Press Releases

First International Conference on
Sustainable Planning for Harbour District
Draws High Level Experts to Share Global Experience

(April 26, 2004, Monday) HONG KONG ---- Over 15 leading representatives from international and local Government, professional, business and civic groups will meet to discuss the best way forward for Hong Kong's Harbour District. It is the first-ever international conference dedicated to sustainable planning for Hong Kong's Harbour District organized in Hong Kong.

Titled "Designing Hong Kong Harbour District", the full-day conference will be held on May 3 at the Island Shangri La Hotel. Chaired by Paul Zimmerman, the speakers include The Hon Michael Suen, JP, Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Sean O'Neill, Director of Communications, Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (The Big Dig, Boston) and Mr Peter Alward, Former Deputy Director of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. The four sessions of the conference are Transport Policy, Land Development & Land Use, Implementation and Institutional Arrangements.

"The Government is pleased to participate in this timely conference initiated by the community. It certainly echoes the Government's commitment to protect and preserve the Harbour for the enjoyment of the community and its initiative to set up the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee. We look forward to an intensive day of discussions with local and overseas experts which will surely contribute to creating a world class harbour-front and building consensus in such efforts", said Mrs Carrie Lam, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands). Mrs Lam and her colleagues from the Planning, Transport and Territory Development Departments will take part in the four discussion sessions.

"We are proud to be able to bring a meaningful mix of expertise together. A well-designed harbour district is good for business and is good for the people of Hong Kong. We are especially pleased with the participation of many Government officials and the representatives from the Big Dig in Boston and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. The sharing of both local know-how and internationally-acclaimed examples will help us to identify creative solutions for sustainable urban planning of the harbour district," said Mr. Paul Zimmerman, Chief co-ordinator of Designing Hong Kong Harbour District campaign.

The Big Dig project of Boston, Massachusetts, USA is a massive public works solution for Boston's longstanding traffic problems, and the economic and quality-of-life issues associated with massive elevated and surface roads. At great expense and major disturbance, the Boston community has decided to replace existing elevated highway arteries with an underground expressway and tunnels. The scale of this project is comparable to the Panama Canal.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority took ownership of Government controlled land, facilities and roads along its harbour front, and is now responsible for the commercial and public management of 400 hectares of some of Australia's most valuable, prestigious and historically significant real estate. Its main roles centre on place management and development, heritage conservation, urban renewal and tourism.

The Designing Hong Kong Harbour District conference, organized by the Business Environment Council as part of the EnviroSeries 2004, is part of a six-month campaign and research project, which will end in June with a report to the Government.

For press enquiries, please contact Conference Press Secretariat:
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"

Designing Hong Kong Harbour District is a community initiative which calls for integrated sustainable urban planning for the entire Harbour District, including Victoria Harbour, the harbour front and surrounding districts on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

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 - 3 May, 2004
Sponsors: The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Gammon Skanska Limited, Island Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, Motorola Semiconductors Hong Kong 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.harbourdistrict.com.hk