Giant butterfly sculpture causes flap in Tsuen Wan district
Councillors query HK$1.5 million construction cost and suggest greater consultation for this and another HK$1.59 million unusual landmark
The preparation work for building two contentious district landmarks has started, despite widespread public criticism of them being too costly and even becoming eyesores.
Opposition against the two projects - a HK$1.59 million statue on Soy Street endorsed by Yau Tsim Mong district council and a HK$1.5 million giant butterfly at Chuen Lung to grace the slopes of Tai Mo Shan - has become so strong that some district councillors called for a public consultation to see if the plans needed changing.
The butterfly statue was endorsed by the Tsuen Wan district council in February last year, which also spent HK$766,000 of public money to build a goose statue in Sham Tseng in honour of its famous roast goose dish.
The district council originally planned to spend another HK$500,000 to light the goose statue, but project proponent and councillor Chan Wai-ming sought to scrap his own plan in February. In January, the goose statue came under fire as critics said it cost too much to install and "looked more like a duck". Chan said he gave up the lighting plan because of the public outcry, as well as technical concerns and maintenance costs.
He also indicated that he had learned a lesson. "I think the HK$1.5 million [butterfly] plan is too expensive, and there should be broader public consultation on the project," Chan said.
Chan's district council colleague and lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun also wondered why the Chuen Long project cost this much. "I will raise questions in the district council, because I believe we can do it with a HK$200,000 to HK$300,000 budget," Tien said.