Lai See | The Tamar Project - where did it all go wrong for government HQ?

Every now and then we dip into the Hong Kong Yearbook for inspiration. Generally we are not disappointed. Take this item from the 2011 yearbook under the heading Tamar Development Project, otherwise known as the central government offices. The architecture is based, we are told, on four concepts: "Door Always Open" - portrays Hong Kong as a city always open and receptive to new ideas and a city of diverse cultures; "Land Always Green" - reflects Hong Kong's aspiration for a lasting green environment; "Sky Will Be Blue" - establishes Hong Kong's commitment to combating air pollution; and "People Will Be Connected" - depicts the Tamar site as an accessible, pleasant gathering place and pathway for leisurely strolls.

Reading this you wonder where it all went wrong or what the author was smoking. The commitment to combating air pollution can only be true if blue is the new grey. As for being a pleasant gathering place, that may in hindsight be regarded as an oversight since it is rarely clear of protest groups. The piece concludes that the building "is designed to look like a prominent open gateway, or 'Open Door', with lush greenery, forming a 'Green Carpet', that runs from Admiralty to the picturesque waterfront". If anyone spots this green carpet, let us know. But it is astonishing this kind of guff finds its way into the government yearbook.

We were wondering recently about the consequences of Australian billionaire Clive Palmer's decision to sue Citic Pacific in connection with the Sino Iron project in Western Australia's Pilbara region. Palmer is suing over the issue of when Citic should begin paying him royalties. However, as we pointed out previously, suing Citic Pacific is like suing the Chinese state, and in doing so he may as well kiss goodbye to doing business with other mainland entities.

So we're wondering about the status of Palmer's plan to build a replica of the Titanic in a Chinese shipyard. He signed a first-stage agreement with Nanjing-based CSC Shipyard to build the ship as part of a planned fleet of luxury liners. His stated plan is for a maiden voyage from London to New York accompanied by mainland Navy vessels. As someone who watches these matters observed to us: "Unlike the original Titanic, Clive's dreamboat could be sunk before it even sets sail."