Community divided over threat to waterfront tranquillity
The planned garden park - and the necessary removal of hundreds of trees - has received a mixed response from businesses in the Stanley area but has been welcomed by tourists and residents.
There are also fears that it will destroy the tranquil environment of a nearby temple.
Restaurant manager Lui Wah-kit said it would have a positive impact on business but hoped construction would not cause too much damage to the natural environment or turn it into 'too artificial' a place.
Rolf Schneider, the owner of a bar in Stanley Main Street, said the area was already beautiful and it was 'absolutely senseless' to cut down precious trees to make way for a park.
'Tourists do not come to Stanley to walk in a park. Stanley is very much shopping in the market, enjoying the sea view and the beach,' said Mr Schneider, who has lived in the district for 27 years.
At the Kwun Yam Temple, near the proposed park, Buddhist nun Kai Joung said the proposal might destroy the quietness of the temple as the hillside beside its front door was to be cleared for a car park.
'A temple needs to be quiet to worship,' she said. 'It's not appropriate to build a car park in front of a temple.'
