bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

An environmental group is making a last-ditch attempt to block a 70- storey skyscraper on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront that  it says could obscure Lion Rock,  the most famous natural landmark in Kowloon.
Green Sense  is expected to file a fresh planning application to the Town Planning Board  this week, hoping the board can reverse its earlier exemption and impose new height restrictions on the New World Centre redevelopment.
Earlier this year the board amended the zoning plan of Tsim Sha Tsui and restricted the height of new buildings in the area to as low as 80 metres. But two redevelopments - the New World Centre and the Ocean Centre - were exempted because they had been approved previously.
Green Sense chairman Roy Tam Hoi-pong  admitted  it stood little chance of winning the case. 'We'll file the application and then get rejected. But you never know - David defeated Goliath,' Mr Tam said.
The New World Centre redevelopment  will see the office tower cum shopping mall  turned into a  hotel of around 70 storeys.
New World Development settled the land premium with the government in 1998, but the project has been held up because of property downturns and negotiations with the government on  land lease terms.
The developer has now cleared all formalities and had planned to start work at the end of the year.
Mr Tam said the skyscraper would be too big and could block the view of Lion Rock and Kowloon Peak, even from Victoria Peak.
'Standing on The Peak a few years from now, you  will see a much less majestic-looking Lion Rock or Kowloon Peak, with skyscrapers clustering along the waterfront.'
He cited a poll by his group in which  56 per cent of 300 respondents said they did not want any more skyscrapers on the waterfront, and 72 per cent agreed height restrictions should be imposed to protect harbour views.
He appealed to the firm  to assume social responsibility. 'As a big developer, it should heed public opinion.'
The developer  could not be reached for comment yesterday.



Green group in last-ditch move  to stop harbourfront hotel tower