. . . but a group of experts offers hope for the area's regeneration to improve

IT started when architect Wong Wah-sang looked at the official government map of Wan Chai and noticed things on the map were not always what they seemed.

Mr Wong, assistant professor of architecture at the University of Hong Kong and chair of newly formed pressure group Urban Watch, was investigating one of the district's most precious commodities, open space, to look for ways of improving the urban environment for the thousands who live and work there.

After Mr Wong and his colleagues produced their ideas, the Post joined Mr Wong and government officials for a morning walk around the district, to listen to the debate.

Urban Watch consists of about a dozen architects, town planners and academics who want to use their professional skills to improve the quality of urban life.

'We don't just criticise. We try to offer suggestions,' said Edwin Chan Hon-wan, another member of Urban Watch and associate professor in the department of building and real estate at Polytechnic University.

Mr Chan soon regretted wearing a heavy tweed jacket for the stroll, which took place in temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius. More prepared was Ling Kar-kan, the District Planning Officer for Hong Kong at the Planning Department, who is a keen walker around his patch, and had already hoofed the kilometre from his office with no visible sweat.

Also on the trip was Yuen Hing-keung, the Urban Services Department's District Amenities Officer; Roy Li Chi-huen, senior town planner for the Urban Services Department; and two University of Hong Kong research assistants, Ilona Ng Pik-kei and Benjamin Yiu Chin-pang.