Urban councillors flocked to Causeway Bay yesterday to attend the completion ceremony for the Central Library, marking the end of disputes over design of the multimillion-dollar project.
They celebrated completion of their last major capital works project before the municipal councils are disbanded at the end of the year.
However, the library is not due to open to the public until December next year.
After touring the building, councillors said they were satisfied with the work.
'I am happy, very happy,' said council chairman Dr Ronald Leung Ding-bong.
In an apparent attempt to play down past disputes over the project, he said: 'There were no storms. I have no idea what kind of storms you are talking about.' The $70 million project has been at the centre of disputes since July 1997 when then urban services director Elaine Chung Lai-kwok failed to notify the council before drawing up another design for the library.
A war of words between Dr Leung and Ms Chung broke out when they gave different versions of the design change on a radio programme.