Concern group says tunnels should replace two roads that cut city off from waterfront
Two eyesore structures along the city's shoreline - the Eastern Island Corridor and the Kwun Tong Bypass - should be torn down and relegated to history, according to a prominent harbour concern group.
Their report on how to beautify Victoria Harbour, released today, urges the government to study the feasibility of replacing the two elevated highways with tunnels, to free up the land for public use.
The report was compiled by the Designing Hong Kong Harbour District group, over the past six months.
The group includes professionals, planning experts and business representatives, such as Christine Loh Kung-wai of the Civic Exchange think-tank and Paul Zimmerman of MF Jebsen International. The South China Morning Post is the event's media sponsor.
The report noted the waterfront is dominated by roads and other transport infrastructure that cut it off from the city. It suggested the government consider turning the eastern waterfront on Hong Kong Island into an area for leisure-time activities, with beaches, a cruise terminal, berths for boating and promenades.
The suggestion is more aggressive than a proposed plan the government is considering - namely, demolishing one section of the corridor and building a long tunnel to solve traffic congestion in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay.
