Taking emotion out of the debate is the only way forward

The government's renewed attempt to talk to reclamation opponents is the right step to take to avoid a new flashpoint in its relations with the public.

In doing so, officials hope to refocus the emotive debate from 'yes or no' to finding the right balance between harbour protection and transport/economic needs.

Only when public consensus on the need to build the Central-Wan Chai bypass is affirmed can the government move to break the impasse over whether the reclamation plan is appropriate.

Last night, Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung said he lamented the sudden change in public sentiment. 'The whole thing began only two weeks ago,' he said. 'To be honest, I knew nothing about the project before that. To me, this is also a learning process.'

Mr Suen could be excused because, as far as the government is concerned, the project has undergone due process, with approvals from the Town Planning Board and the Legislative Council.

If officials have stood by the present plan, it is because they are adamant that due process, the spirit and letter of the law have been upheld.