The government prides itself on making Hong Kong into a 'world-class city'. Yet it is doing the opposite, because no other leading city would mess up its central areas to the extent that is happening in Central and Wan Chai.
The proposal to develop the Tamar site, together with eight other sites in the Central district and on the Central reclamation area - totalling more than 1.2 million sq ft of land - is unreasonable and beyond understanding.
No other city would introduce extensive development in its heart, as it would just attract more traffic and aggravate congestion. In fact, other governments recognise that the only long-term solution for a good urban environment is through decentralisation and a mass-transit system based on rail transport.
It is not acceptable for any government to damage the environment under the pretext of 'there is a demand'. There is always a demand for land in city centres for offices, retail outlets, government facilities, roads and the like. The more central the site, obviously, the greater its value and the greater the demand.
But London does not develop Hyde Park, nor does New York develop Central Park for such purposes. If the Hong Kong government adopts a demand-driven approach, it would mean that not only our harbour but even the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Hong Kong Park and Chater Garden should all be developed. Obviously this would be totally irresponsible and the height of folly. Surely the first duty of any government should be to provide a good urban environment for its people, not to generate revenue by encouraging development.
The picture presented by the Transport Department on September 3, at the Expert Panel Forum on Sustainable Transport Planning and Central-Wan Chai Bypass, is alarming. The forum established the following facts, which highlight the contradiction between development and traffic relief. First, the present congestion in Central and Wan Chai is the result of the imbalance of traffic using the three cross-harbour tunnels, due to the difference in tolls.