LettersHong Kong housing: Nimby protests should not derail plan for temporary Kai Tak flats

Readers discuss opposition to the Hong Kong government’s plan to build transitional housing in Kai Tak, and, with cruise ships expected to return to the city, steps the industry is taking to reduce carbon emissions

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People sign a petition to oppose the the construction of temporary housing in Kai Tak, on February 4. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 11:30am, 7 Feb 2023

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Why are Kai Tak residents objecting to the government building light public housing? This question might seem a bit unfair because most people in Hong Kong, including those in Kai Tak, would be happy to see the wait for public housing shortened through the “light public housing” scheme.

However, Kai Tak residents object to most of the units being concentrated in their neighbourhood. Local representatives say the additional population would overburden the existing public transport facilities.

I couldn’t help but think that if the plot of land weren’t used for light public housing, it would have been used for commercial purposes. This would have equally added to the congestion, and maybe even had a worse impact, since there would be car parks attracting private and commercial vehicles.

I often have to explain the concept of NIMBY – “not in my backyard”, sometimes referred to as Nimbyism – to students. Governments around the world have faced this problem. When I was studying in Vancouver, Canada, local residents blocked the government from bringing a casino into the city.

In Hong Kong, Christian Zheng Sheng College, which helps young people recover from drug addiction, is widely recognised as a valuable facility. Even though then chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen supported the school’s expansion in 2009, its relocation to Mui Wo was blocked by local residents.