Blueprints to create Hong Kong's biggest pedestrian area, turning Des Voeux Road Central into a kilometre-long car-free zone, were unveiled by a consortium of professional bodies yesterday.
The plan would allow only trams in the section from Pedder Street to Western Market. The Institute of Planners and Chartered Institute of Transport said this would restore Des Voeux Road to its 1940s charm. They have submitted the idea to the Transport Department, which recently commissioned a consultant to study the possibilities of creating pedestrian zones in Central, Wan Chai, Jordan and Shamshuipo.
The two bodies said Des Voeux Road was ideal because it had the MTR system, trams and an absence of car parks in the old commercial buildings along the road.
A council member of the Institute of Planners, Ian Brownlee, said the plan was feasible. 'We are convinced it can be done, but the fundamental point is that the amount of traffic in Central would be reduced, and increased reliance will be placed on rail transport,' he said.
He said that with the road and rail links being proposed in the new waterfront reclamation area and reorganised bus routes, there was a unique chance to realise the plan.
'It's time to take a bolder approach and do something significant,' Mr Brownlee said. He added that, on completion, the area would become an attraction rather than just a place of work.
A member of the transport institute, Fred Brown, said the Des Voeux Road traffic could be diverted to Connaught Road Central, Queen's Road Central and the waterfront roads to be built in coming years.
