What do you think of the revised plan for the Mega Tower?
I refer to the report ('Hopewell to unveil new tower proposal', August 9).
The developer of the Mega Tower in Wan Chai is considering reducing the development intensity by 5 per cent in order to placate criticism of excessive size. This is laughable as, in 2005, a similar proposal to reduce gross floor area by 5 per cent was rejected by the Town Planning Board.
Furthermore, the developer may apply to the Buildings Department for a bonus plot ratio of five based on the area of public thoroughfare, which would again boost the density.
It is also reported that the company had abandoned efforts to obtain a land swap, but this is hardly surprising as some of the land at Queen's Road East that was proposed for exchange in the 1994 scheme has been built on. What is surprising is that construction could proceed despite the Town Planning Board having rezoned this land as 'open space' in 1994. It is still zoned open space.
A 5 per cent reduction does not address the planning board's stated concerns of excessive scale, visual impact, traffic impact and tree felling.