Planning advisers reject proposal to call time on tram services in core of Hong Kong’s central business district
Town Planning Board pours cold water on idea to remove historic trams between Central and Wan Chai
Planning advisers for the government rejected a controversial proposal to remove trams from a key section of Hong Kong’s central business district during a meeting of the city’s Town Planning Board on Friday.
Former local town planner Sit Kwok-keung had submitted an application to do away with trams between the downtown districts of Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island due to traffic congestion concerns, despite the board already having rejected a similar submission in 2015.
The plan stirred up much public debate two years ago, with a majority coming out against disposing of the city’s oldest and cheapest form of public transport, which has a history stretching back 113 years.
Sit justified his proposal by saying the trams occupied valuable road space in the busiest part of Hong Kong Island.
Keep the 'Ding Dings'! Plan to scrap Hong Kong's 'iconic' trams from Central looks doomed after overwhelming public opposition
