Plan to revamp Hong Kong's famous Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront greeted with scepticism by locals and tourists

With a vista up there with the world's best and a proud history to match, the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront stirs some powerful emotions.

The South China Morning Post took to the waterfront yesterday and found an avenue of divided opinion on the plan, which would see developer New World build new attractions, restaurants and stores in return for an extension on its contract to manage the site. The company says it will not profit from the work.

Student Cheung Chun-fung, 19, said: "I think this project isn't a good thing, because it's going to close the promenade for three years and will make walking from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom very inconvenient. TST and Hung Hom already have enough malls and restaurants for tourists. Building [more] will be useless."

Handing the project to New World without open bidding "seems unfair" and "raises the question of whether there is collusion between government and developers", he added.