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Last week the government floated the idea of building flats in country parks.
The proposed fundamental shift in Hong Kong's conservation policy is at once peremptory and presumptuous.
Why country parks?
Without clear options and priorities, facts and figures, the mere floating of the idea smacks of muddled thinking.
Country parks were planned decades ago to protect water catchment areas and as a major conservation measure.
The 24 parks occupy 40 per cent of our land area. In this crowded, busy, highly stressed and polluted city, they are our gardens and lungs, where we can go to breathe fresh air, relax and have a good time.
Last year alone, more than 13 million people enjoyed the activities they allow, including hiking, picnics and camping.
But our future is built on plans we make today, and in planning that future it might be necessary to take a fresh look at country parks in our planning process.
It is believed that by redrawing the park boundaries we could easily provide land for the 500,000 flats that will be needed over the next decade.
The government's intentions are good. Alas, as the old adage says, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
In the interest of future generations, we must plan with our eyes open and our minds alert, consider all options, and prioritise them.
Tough questions need to be addressed before we recklessly slide down a slippery slope of no return. Today it is about finding land for building flats.
Tomorrow, it could be about finding land for something else, such as for burial, landfill or whatever.
We need to consider different ways and means to yield more land and/or reduce demand. In planning comprehensive land use, we could consider measures such as rezoning or reclamation and look at immigration policy.
These issues are not easy but should, nevertheless, be explored, their pros and cons argued and obstacles identified and surmounted.
To do otherwise would undermine the government's credibility and its time-honoured reputation for efficiency and good governance.
Let us hope the government will not take an easy (even lazy) way out by squandering the land in country parks just because it is there.
An easy-peasy attitude to overcoming difficulties could easily metastasise into other difficult policy areas. Some might one day float the idea of euthanasia to deal with the problem of an ageing society. I tremble to think.
Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien was secretary for health and welfare from 1990 to 1994 and a legislative councillor from 1995 to 1997
 


Solving city's housing needs not a walk in the park

A close encounter in Kam Shan Country Park. Photo: Nora Tam

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Hong Kong

We must review other ways to find land before messing up such a conservation treasure


Last week the government floated the idea of building flats in country parks. The proposed fundamental shift in Hong Kong's conservation policy is at once peremptory and presumptuous.


Solving city's housing needs not a walk in the park

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}We must review other ways to find land before messing up such a conservation treasure

We must review other ways to find land before messing up such a conservation treasure