Calls for more flats at Kai Tak spark ventilation fears
Former government adviser says lack of air in Kowloon City could be as bad as Mong Kok
Air ventilation in Kowloon City and its neighbouring districts will become as bad as Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei if the government adds more flats at Kai Tak, a former government adviser fears.
Edward Ng Yan-yung, a professor of architecture at Chinese University, gave advice on the development of the site of the former airport during the early planning stages.
He reassessed the air ventilation of the area around Kai Tak in light of the latest proposal floated by supporters of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
Ng said a previous assessment showed that the existing development plan with a plot ratio of five - floor space five times a site area - would already block some air coming from the harbour along the old runway.
This made air ventilation in districts behind Kai Tak such as Kowloon City, San Po Kong and Hoi Hung "marginally acceptable", he said.
But on Sunday Michael Choi Ngai-min, a member of the Long-Term Housing Strategy Steering Committee, said the number of homes on the site could be doubled to 70,000.
Ng said that under Choi's proposal, the plot ratio would rise to seven or more, with Kowloon City, San Po Kong and Hoi Hung facing even lower wind speeds and higher temperatures.