Including a Happy Valley station with exits in the Jockey Club and the neighbourhood could be achieved at little cost compared with any other means of providing additional transport capacity in the future.
It would be irresponsible to bypass Happy Valley, to save construction costs and a minute on the ride. There is simply no room to increase road capacity in areas surrounding Happy Valley and, with existing road usage at critical levels, the community benefits of any reduction in vehicular trips will far outweigh the cost of an additional station.
Gordon Robinson ('Happy Valley MTR station will bring even more congestion', December 24) and other correspondents say this new station would bring more people and destroy what is special about Happy Valley. Having lived there, I agree that Happy Valley has a quiet community feel that should be nurtured.
However, I doubt that the station would bring more visitors. Happy Valley is not a destination for tour buses now and a station will not change that. This 'sleeping village' has no attractions other than a few shops and restaurants. Yet, residents are right to be worried. Some businessmen will use a rail station exit to justify additional development. Although the outline zoning plan governing Happy Valley has recently been amended, any relaxation will increase the population and bring more traffic.
Therefore, Designing Hong Kong made it clear that the station should not be paid for with new development rights, but with a financial subsidy. The government appears to agree and challenged the Jockey Club to pay the extra HK$1.3 billion. The club should share the cost for the station and club exits, and the government should contribute based on residential traffic and public exits.
The Comprehensive Transport Study III calls for rail as Hong Kong's transport backbone. With convenient stations and connections, more people will choose rail over buses or cars. However, if our aim is to improve the environment and quality of life throughout Hong Kong, this is only sustainable as long as we also control development.