What do you think of plans to widen Hiram's Highway?
The Highways Department has carried out the by-now familiar, cosmetic tactic of 'consultation' on the proposed four-lane widening of Hiram's Highway to Sai Kung, before brushing aside the opposing views of many and doing what it always intended to do anyway.
At the same time, a large area of land opposite Sha Kok Mei is having extensive drainage works installed. This is the area where, some years ago, a proposal to build additional housing for 15,000 people (about the same number of people as the existing population of the town) was postponed because of vociferous opposition by people who live in the area.
Often in the New Territories, developers, contractors and other individuals use their influence to fill their own pockets with money.
This sometimes involves illegal felling of trees and other environmental destruction prior to obtaining approval for construction. They sometimes don't even bother getting that, or breach the terms of any user permit and building restrictions with impunity because, thanks to our spineless administration, they are above the law.
Am I the only one who suspects the Highways Department's proposal to build a dual carriageway to Sai Kung is part of a wider, secret agenda?
The road widening is being done under the guise of reducing road congestion on weekends and public holidays; it is not needed.