A government plan to reclaim land off Kennedy Town is expected to be scaled down drastically following widespread criticism from green groups and architects.
The Planning Department is studying options to the proposed urban renewal plan in Western involving 79 hectares of reclamation following the criticism, according to a government source.
The news came as the Society for Protection of the Harbour said it was willing to compromise and accept a 10-hectare reclamation project to renew old areas in the district.
'There has been widespread public outcry and the department is reviewing various proposals,' the source said.
'One option could be to allocate [projected] additional people to the New Territories to minimise the need for reclamation, but that has yet to be finalised.'
The source would not be drawn on the extent of the reduction, but noted it would be 'substantial' if officials decided to use the New Territories. The Government says 33 hectares, or 42 per cent, of the total reclamation would be used to house 70,000 people in Western by 2016.
