Reclamation along the Wan Chai waterfront for transport links and waterfront facilities will be kept to a minimum, the Government promised yesterday.
The consultancy on phase two of the Wan Chai development project would be asked to avoid reclamation as far as possible, acting Deputy Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands Wilson Fung Wing-yip said.
'Instead of providing various options as is usually the case, consultants would recommend one that involves the least reclamation.
'We want to stress the objective of the proposed development is not to reclaim land for development and that there is no pre-determined limit of reclamation,' Mr Fung told Legco's planning, lands and works panel.
The project will allow transport infrastructure to be built along the waterfront, including the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, the Island Eastern Corridor Link, the North Hong Kong Island Line, land for a possible further cross-harbour rail link and a mass transport centre.
The $60 million study will end late next year. Mr Fung's pledge followed opposition to the Central and Wan Chai reclamation proposals after they were gazetted in May for consultation.
