Height limit to protect landmark breached
A height limit to protect Macau's historic lighthouse has been breached just a month after the restriction was announced by Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah.
On April 16, Mr Ho introduced height limits ranging from 46 to 90 metres for nine zones near the Guia Lighthouse - a 143-year-old landmark which is part of a World Heritage cluster. Despite a government order to stop, work has continued on a residential building that should be no higher than 52.5 metres, taking it close to 80 metres.
It is believed the government is in a difficult position: it approved the building plan last year and has no legal grounds to reverse its consent. Some units of the building have been sold on pre-completion contracts.
Heritage activist Tony Yuen Wai-tong, who is leading a campaign to save the lighthouse from being obscured from view, said the new building had cast doubts on the effectiveness of the government's height limits.
'It's very disappointing to see the limit breached,' Mr Yuen said, 'The mind boggles that the building's construction went ahead after the government asked for it to stop.'
