Industrial heritage still blights harbour
The utilitarian view of the Hong Kong harbour dates back to the city's beginnings. It is a view that still holds today, judging from the loading areas, pumping stations, sewage treatment plants, highways and other eyesores that line Hong Kong island's northern shore. Footpaths to the harbour are difficult to find and those that do exist make for unpleasant walks, given the traffic congestion and lack of planning for pedestrians.
Old photographs of the island's central districts show that godowns belonging to the city's biggest trading houses once dominated the waterfront. What we have today is the result of decades of unquestioning acceptance of the practical attitudes represented in past planning practices. It is not too late to make some changes, although it requires an entirely new mindset on what the harbour is for and who is to benefit from its development.
Hong Kong has long since transformed itself into a service economy, and it is no longer appropriate or desirable for industrial sites to be located on the harbour front. On the far western side of the island, as we report today, there is an unused government incineration plant. Many of these eyesores could be moved elsewhere or be scrapped, opening up valuable waterfront land that could be developed for public use. The same applies to bus stations near the Wan Chai and North Point ferry terminals, which the government and planners have considered redeveloping.
Given the controversies over the Central and Wan Chai reclamations and the planned West Kowloon cultural hub, it is clear that civic groups and the general public are more concerned than ever about having a say in the future of the harbour. Few would argue with the government's desire to make the waterfront more pleasant and to draw visitors by providing promenades, plazas and outdoor entertainment. Such amenities can be provided with minimal reclamation, especially if existing sites are resumed.
For new recreational facilities or waterfront attractions to work, careful thought will have to be given to traffic planning and safe pedestrian access. On the Hong Kong side, much of the harbour is blocked by busy roads and other barriers.
The waterfront as it stands now still bears the hallmarks of a time when Victoria Harbour was also the centre of the city's maritime activity. But most of our port business has moved to outlying areas such as Kwai Chung, and our use of prime real estate along the water has to change with the times. The government is on the right track with its plans for opening up the harbourfront to the public. Yes, bring the people to the harbour; but first, we need to remove the industrial eyesores that are standing in the way.
