Group files complaint on Central reclamation

The Society for the Protection of the Harbour yesterday filed a formal complaint with the Legislative Council over the government's handling of the Central reclamation issue.

It also called on legislators to investigate and debate the $280 million compensation claim from contractors over the delay resulting from the society's legal challenge to the project.

The society said any effort by the government to blame it for the delay was 'untrue and unjustified as a review of the facts will show'.

In fact, it argues, the government appeared to have deliberately put itself in a legally and financially vulnerable position by prematurely, unwisely and improperly entering into the Central Reclamation works contract.

The Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau faces a $280 million compensation claim from the contractors because of the delay.

The claim, lodged by the joint venture of Leighton Contractors and China State Construction Engineering Company, is $180 million more than the amount earlier estimated by the government as the cost of delay.