Hong Kong campaigners criticise ‘black box’ decision by Town Planning Board to relax height limits of Anglican Church’s proposed private hospital in Central
- Petition launched over what concern group sees as flaws in key ruling on hospital plans in historic Sheng Kung Hui compound
- Lawmaker questions why another private hospital is needed on Hong Kong Island, where several medical sites are operating below capacity
A concern group has challenged a watchdog’s “black box” decision to relax height limits on the Hong Kong Anglican Church’s proposed new hospital in Central.
The Town Planning Board shot down in May a government proposal to lower the height limit on the church’s new building on its Bishop’s House compound, which is earmarked for one of the most historic parts of the city.
The board instead raised the limit to 135 metres (443 feet), equivalent to the 25-storey private hospital building the church – known locally as Sheng Kung Hui – planned to build.
The Government Hill Concern Group, which had previously tried to foil the proposals by filing a separate application to rezone the compound, said on Thursday it had started a petition to demand the board reconsider its decision to relax the height limit.
“The Town Planning Board and Planning Department have customised the height limit for Sheng Kung Hui, so it is almost like there is no limit,” said Katty Law Ngar-ning, convenor of the group.
“This will destroy the heritage environment on Government Hill and Bishop Hill while also bringing huge traffic disruption,” said Law.