Public wants a green, open harbour: banker
Government and business urged to listen to public
The government and the business community should take account of public aspirations over Victoria Harbour when they plan developments along the waterfront, a top banker said yesterday.
Speaking at a prize-giving ceremony on a Victoria Harbour design competition, Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen said: 'How we plan the harbour today will have a long-lasting impact. The general public told us [of] their ideal harbour through their drawings and designs. They said they want more green and open space along the waterfront; they don't want it to be high-rises only.
'We hope their ideas can be a reference for the government and the business community.'
Mr Cheng, the chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp, is the spokesman for the Harbour Business Forum, a coalition of more than 120 corporate and business organisations. He said the forum hoped the waterfront would be accessible for the public.
'We believe the harbour should not be monopolised by skyscrapers. There shouldn't be buildings that will create a wall effect, affecting ventilation.'
More than 600 entries were submitted for the forum's design competition.
The grand prize went to three Year Two students at the Institute of Vocational Education's campus in Kwun Tong for their multimedia production, called No Substitute. Wan Sin-ying, one of the winners explained: 'We believe there is no substitute for Victoria Harbour.'
Their story tells of three fish that happen to see a spectacular fireworks show at Victoria Harbour and decide to build another harbour underwater. After all the hassle, they realise it is impossible to produce a harbour that could rival Victoria Harbour.
The winning entries will be exhibited at Pacific Place until Monday. They will move to Sha Tin's New Town Plaza for display between June 22-26 and Ocean Terminal between June 29 and July 2.
THE IDEAS BEHIND THE WINNING ENTRIES
The Grand Prize - No Substitute
Three fishes want to have a replica of Victoria Harbour in the sea after seeing the spectacular fireworks displayed over the harbour. But after all the hassle, they find it is impossible to produce another harbour that can rival Victoria.
Gold Prize, Open category - Oasis of the City
Victoria Harbour will become an oasis where the concrete jungle can be filled with more colours, activities and laughter.
