More than 80 creative designs for the Central waterfront went on public display yesterday at the Star Ferry pier in Central. The displays are entries in a design competition that will play a part in the public consultation on the new waterfront. Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor presided over the opening ceremony with other dignitaries present. Mrs Lam said she welcomed the design competition as a complement to the government's work. After taking a quick glimpse at the displays, she judged that some plans might not be feasible, saying they would require further reclamation work. The exhibition, organised by Designing Hong Kong, attracted dozens of entries from international and local architects. The display at the pier will run until September 28. Paul Zimmerman, Designing Hong Kong spokesman, encouraged the public to vote for their favourite waterfront design by filling in a form at the exhibition. Another way to vote and comment on the designs is on the website www.designinghongkong.com . A wide range of professionals has been invited as judges. Apart from architects and professors of architecture, others invited to judge the works include writers, artists, lawmakers, surveyors and Urban Renewal Authority chairman Barry Cheung Chun-yuen. The jury members will meet on Saturday to select three winners and five merit awardees, and the results will be announced next Sunday. Mr Zimmerman said all designs would be submitted to the government along with the results of the public voting when the consultation officially opened next month. Architect Vincent Ng, who sits on the jury, said instead of focusing on the design structure he would pay more attention to the open space, which would allow different activities to be held. Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said he found the different perspectives from designers worldwide interesting in their attempt to bring more vibrancy to the city. Crispian Cheng, who submitted a design that took him and his six teammates two months to prepare, said: 'Joining this competition has been enjoyable.' What mattered to him, he added, was not the result but the process itself. Canadian Angela Spaxman, who has worked in Hong Kong for 11 years, said the competition was a model of how urban planning should be done. 'It has more variety as it starts from a blank page. It expresses different visions. There is a chance for the public to express their idea.'
