New towns plan: hearing could last 2.5 years
Record 53,000 objections to development in New Territories prompts Town Planning Board to ask opponents to seek joint representation
Objectors to the northeastern New Territories development plan were urged yesterday to present their cases in groups through representatives to limit the length of a Town Planning Board hearing that could otherwise last 2-1/2 years.
The rare appeal to opponents, who have lodged a record 53,000 objections to the plan for two new towns, came from board deputy chairman Stanley Wong Yuen-fai. Wong said he did not want to see rules tightened due to the number of objections.
"We should treasure the liberal process and it shouldn't be tightened just because of the large number of opposite views," he said.
Board members will be asked to decide today whether the public comments should be considered individually or collectively.
Wong urged objectors who held similar views to pick a representative to speak on their behalf.
His appeal was rejected by a representative of villagers in Kwu Tung, whose homes will have to make way for one of the new towns. Lee Siu-wah said more than 1,000 villagers had submitted their views and a collective presentation would deprive them of their right to speak.