Concrete Analysis | To realise Hong Kong’s harbourfront potential, bureaus must rid the silo mentality

As many may know, I stepped back as a member of the Harbourfront Commission with effect from July 1, having been chairman since its inception in 2010, and involved for a number of years before that as a member of its predecessor, the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee.

Obviously I have done so with some sadness but also with some pride in that the commission, which despite the fact that it is only an adviser to the Hong Kong government, has in my view, achieved some noticeable success in ensuring that waterfront enhancement and connectivity are key components of all projects and initiatives that are referred to it. Over the last eight years, some 150 projects have been reviewed and I think it is fair to say that the impact of each has been materially improved by the incorporation of views and comments expressed by members of the commission.

The commission has also played its part by contributing to the planning of future waterfront areas, such as the master plan for the Wan Chai/Causeway Bay/North Point reclamation which will be implemented on completion of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, and in regularly reviewing plans for the development of Kai Tak and ensuring that the ongoing works continue to reflect and respect the Harbour Planning Principles.

Innovative proposals such as constructing a boardwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor to provide both access and proximity to the water are also being pursued as well as a series of “quick win” initiatives in partnership with local district councils to ensure community involvement in the work of the commission.

In other words, the commission flies both high in its role as champion of the harbour but also low in examining the details of every scheme that is put before it. It was also allocated HK$500 million (US$63.73 million) by the previous administration and this is to be spent on a series of enhancement projects on both sides of the harbour.

However, there is still much work to be done, not least the need to address the absence of an agency or authority with executive powers that can envision and deliver a holistic master plan which responds to the community’s aspirations and creates a quality waterfront befitting an international city like Hong Kong.