LettersBeautify Hong Kong with care, or not at all
- Readers discuss beautification efforts in Stanley, the impact of a development project in Wan Chai, and what to do about beggars in the city
I am one of those who are suspicious whenever the administration decides to “beautify” a site.
Take Stanley, for example. The “eight houses” located at the far end of Stanley Market are a fine – and rare – example of old-time fishermen’s dwellings; they face a small beach, beyond magnificent Indian almond trees. It was a perfect natural setting, with thousands of visitors coming to take pictures.
A few years ago, it was decided – by whom ? – that the place was to be “beautified”. We had a platform overlooking the beach, plastic fences surrounding the trees, a row of wood-like posts in front of the houses and a steel railing along the beach.
A few planters were added more recently along the steel railing, then removed.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has since replaced the planters with a massive wall made of stones encased in wire mesh. The result is ugly and obstructs the sea view.
Could someone reconsider the whole set-up and come up with a more environment- and tourist-friendly solution, bearing in mind that Stanley is one of Hong Kong’s major tourist spots? And in the meantime, remove at the very least these blocks of stones.