Reclamation model is fantasy land, says Christine Loh
A misleading depiction of the project shows a major highway as a tree-lined road, she says
The government has been accused of misleading the public about the Central reclamation plan with unrealistic images that show a six-lane highway as a narrow, tree-lined road.
Christine Loh Kung-wai, chairwoman of the Society for the Protection of the Harbour, made the accusation regarding the government's pamphlet, All About Central Reclamation Phase III, and its depiction of what the final product would look like.
Subsequent investigations by the South China Morning Post also revealed that the public document failed to include a 150-metre military shipping berth and the access road to it.
Under the 1994 Sino-British Defence Land Agreement, berth facilities must be made available to the PLA.
But the pamphlet, produced by the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, showed a park and promenade where the berth and access road should be.
Ms Loh warned the public to be aware of propaganda as the government tried to push through its proposal. 'Look at this pamphlet and go over it with a fine tooth comb,' she said.
A spokesman for the planning department said that in a photo of the model included in the pamphlet, trees covered part of the road because of the camera's angle and altitude.
That explained why it looked narrower than it would be, he said.
Ms Loh also warned that once the reclamation was finished, there was a danger the government could rezone the allotted 5.1 hectares of commercial space and turn the entire 18 hectares into a commercial area that could house up to 10 buildings the size of HSBC tower.
The department spokesman rejected allegations that the reclaimed land could eventually be rezoned, saying that any proposed amendments would need to be gazetted.
The military berth was mentioned during discussions on the Central reclamation Phase III plan at the Legislative Council's planning, lands and works panel on March 1, 2002.
The panel said: 'It is our intention to make the military dock open for public access and as part of the future waterfront promenade ... when not in military use.'
Detailed plans submitted during the meeting show the dock and an accompanying access road on the foreshore directly in front of the PLA headquarters - the old Prince of Wales Building.
The berth was also mentioned at a joint meeting of the planning, lands and works panel and the environmental affairs panel on October 13 last year.
According to the minutes, Liberal Party leader James Tien Pei-chun raised concerns the curved shape of the reclaimed shoreline would be unable to accommodate a military dock for the PLA.
