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Shot here from s coast Cheung Chau this morning. V little wind, but fair waves rolling in. Here, though, have offshore islands – so waves generally not extreme. Just heard that Sai Kung Peninsula, eastern Hong Kong, has big swell rolling in; a coastal restaurant – Sha Kiu – with water rolling over main area for tables, two floating wooden piers have "gone". Chanchu regained some strength according to JTWC; just seen forum post mentioning 200km outer eye. Looks set to pass a little to the east of HK; so powerful northerlies may dominate tomorrow. Weather radar (HK Obs) shows rainstorms nearing. [img]https://www.hkoutdoors.com/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/images/chanchuearlysurf.JPG[/img]
Landfall east of Hong Kong looking most likely now.
Joint Typhoon Warning Center has shifted forecast track, now more in agreement with Hong Kong Observatory.
Strike two for HK Obs: JTWC has also reduced estimated current and forecast intensities, again becoming more in line with HKO – although Chanchu a large storm area-wise, now no longer a super typhoon, and set to weaken as it nears the coast, then weaken rapidly after landfall, probably late Wed (HK time).Guessing for HK – Number 8 signal maybe up as Chanchu closest; but if it keeps to forecast track, No 10 unlikely.
Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/05/16 04:57
HK Observatory has Chanchu set to turn northeast, so not make direct hit on HK, but to e Guangdong:
Joint Typhoon Warning Center still forecasting v close to or over HK; but weakening fast as approaching land 4.50 pm: JTWC has lowered intensity estimate and forecasts; still forecasting landfall v close to or over HK. HK Obs has increased intensity estimate (not as high as JTWC tho; curious discrepancy)
Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/05/15 08:51
HK Weather Radar, should be especially interesting once Chanchu is close: – currently showing a few showers, in outermost rain bands, not yet reaching land
Clear the Air/Asiaexpat petition, requesting govt take immediate action on air pollution:
Time Asia just reporting that Seoul is cleaning its air; but at the same time, Hong Kong’s air pollution is getting worse.
Quote:By Bryan Walsh | Hong Kong
VANISHING: Hong Kong is often shrouded in heavy smog…Hong Kong has lost its sky. The city is frequently cloaked in a noxious smog, and many days the only place you can see a clear shot of the famously picturesque skyline is in ads for luxury apartments. Urban esthetics aside, the damage to Hong Kong residents’ lungs may be worse. “The only safe conclusion is that [air pollution] is having a very serious adverse effect on the health of people of all ages,” says Dr. Anthony Hedley, chairman of the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. Here’s the only good news: air pollution has become so severe and so unremitting that Hong Kongers are fed up—and may finally be ready to force their leaders to act.
… The answers are out there: the government’s Council for Sustainable Development last week released a number of smart anti-pollution proposals, such as restricting vehicle use on high-pollution days, imposing an energy tax during periods of peak power use, and asking electricity producers to use only clean coal or low-polluting natural gas by 2010. While those ideas could have a major impact, many experts doubt whether Hong Kong’s entrenched bureaucracy has the imagination or the will to implement them—and to confront a challenge that crosses borders and barriers.
…
“We’ve done the easy things, like getting diesel vehicles on low-sulfur fuels,” says Bill Barron, a visiting professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “But the more fundamental changes still need to be made”—such as extending the city’s underdeveloped rail network.At least the Hong Kong government has the authority to make those changes, if it chooses. There’s far less it can do about the estimated 80% of its air pollution that floats across the border from the mainland factories, power plants and highways of Guangdong province, where environmental regulations and enforcement are more lax.
…
A consensus is growing that Hong Kong businessmen who have grown rich polluting the Pearl River Delta should help clean up the mess. “In the past, they thought that the dirty fields, the dirty air and the dirty water resulting from the factories would not be their problems,” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang last month. “These things come back to haunt us. You breathe in that air in Hong Kong and you drink that water in Hong Kong.”
…
The business community is also increasingly worried that pollution will make Hong Kong fall behind in the arms race for top foreign workers. Last month human-resources consultancy ECA International dropped Hong Kong 12 spots to No. 32 on its annual list of the most livable cities for Asian expatriates, chiefly on the basis of air pollution. (Singapore was No. 1.) Headhunters are already grappling with this competitive threat. Aaron Stewart, director of the Hong Kong division of recruitment firm Pelham International, tells of a client who accepted an $800,000-a-year offer to move from the U.S. to Hong Kong, only to drop out at the last minute because his wife feared the effect the city’s air pollution would have on their two asthmatic children. “The majority of people spend a lot of time thinking about it,” he says. “There’s no denying the pollution.”
…No shark net – it’s not a gazetted beach; more importantly, no lifeguard service either (probably no sharks around on any given day; they’re rare in HK – currents here more of a problem: have been deaths due to currents here, but not sharks that I know of).
Don’t think surfboards are for hire, even from small restaurant that rents camping gear. See surfers hiking up n over carrying their boards.
The Soko rally was a great success, with some 30 yachts, junks and motorboats taking part. Over 100 people enjoyed a beautiful weekend in this special place. The message from the gathering was clear, nobody wants to see this unique resource destroyed by building an LNG storage facility.
We are committed to cleaning up the atmosphere in Hong Kong and certainly not against LNG as an alternative energy source. However, we don’t want CLP trading one form of environmental crime (air pollution) for another (destruction of endangered habitat) simply for political reasons. There are alternative and better sites available (Black Point, spare capacity in Schenzen, offshore terminals, etc.).
[from Richard Winter, a key organiser of Save the Sokos campaign]
Hi Mary:
Pretty easy – can get to start of the walk by Tai O bus, passing just above Seasports.
Yes, plenty more on Lantau; even strolling Cheung Sha beach is good.
Various other Lantau articles on this site, under Places section.Martin
Quote:By Victor Mallet in Hong Kong
Published: April 3 2006Hong Kong’s ranking as a desirable place to live for expatriate employees has fallen sharply as a result of worsening air pollution, according to the latest survey of the world’s cities from ECA International, which sells advice to employers on living conditions and hardship allowances.
For Asian expatriates, Hong Kong fell to 32nd place in the 2005-06 rankings from 20th in 2004-05, entirely because of air pollution and rising health risks, including the dangers of bird flu to humans.
…
Hong Kong’s pollution, most of it blown in from the factories, vehicles and power stations of the neighbouring Chinese province of Guangdong, has worsened steadily but its authorities have been slow to respond and been reluctant to confront their counterparts in Guangdong and Beijing. Some western expatriates have moved from Hong Kong to Singapore or returned to their home countries, citing air pollution as one of the factors that persuaded them to leave.Mr Quane said that for Asian expatriates Hong Kong’s decline this year had pushed the city from the top category, where ECA says no hardship allowance is needed, to Category B, for which companies should consider paying such an allowance.
Air pollution is given 20 out of a total of 330 points in the ranking system (with the highest score being the worst). Hong Kong’s air pollution score is 14, compared with two for Singapore….
New maps highlight threats to Lantau’s natural beauty
Hong Kong’s largest and most beautiful island facing slew of developments
Hong Kong, May 2006 — Civic Exchange – an independent public policy think tank – has commissioned two maps to raise public awareness of the unprecedented and sustained development pressures facing Lantau. One, Beautiful Lantau Island, shows the unique and priceless natural assets Lantau currently offers. The other, Lantau Concrete Plans, illustrates the possible effects of those development proposals currently on the table.
“Lantau is a beautiful island with wild mountains, ravines, a stunning coastline and an immense biodiversity – Lantau is an essential green lung both for Hong Kong and for the entire Southern China” says Christine Loh, Chief Executive Officer of Civic Exchange. “A number of haphazard development proposals have been tabled in a top-down government report and if these proposals are implemented, irreparable damage would be done to one of Southern China’s last wild and natural places.”
Many of the potential developments have been proposed in the government’s Concept Plan for Lantau. They range from a huge bridge across the Pearl River to Zhuhai and extensive reclamations to support an industrial park, to hotels and concrete cycle trails bulldozed through the coastal bush. Others were omitted from the Concept Plan, notably a massive, 245-hectare reclamation off uniquely scenic Tai O for a yet-to-be-justified container port, and a Liquified Natural Gas Terminal on the Soko Islands, which had previously been shelved, after public consultation, for a marine reserve.
“Lantau has become the ‘wishing tree’ for every conceivable undertaking,” said Clive Noffke of the Green Lantau Association. “There have been suggestions for everything from a casino and a motor racing track, to a ski slope and a man-made beach on one of our finest natural beaches.”
Villages dot the lowlands beside old rice fields roamed by cattle and water buffalo. There are so many temples than Lantau was once known as ‘The Island of Prayer’. Isolated by many years by a lack of road access, Lantau has been preserved from the frenetic development that characterizes urban areas.
Generations of Hong Kong people have come to love Lantau, its huge vistas, magnificent beaches, and the peace and contentment that being in contact with nature brings. Today, legions of children visit Lantau as part of their school curriculum; picnickers, hikers and campers are among the many other Hongkongers and overseas tourists who enjoy Lantau. Financial Secretary Henry Tang heads the taskforce charged with planning Lantau developments, yet has acknowledged, “Lantau is Hong Kong’s biggest and most beautiful island”.
Sadly, if development protagonists have their way all that is going to irrevocably change. “The Concept Plan asserts that the government aim is for sustainable development and that the plans are balanced,” says Noffke. “Yet the emphasis is solely on development, and there is no mention of future generations who are supposedly crucial in the governments own definition of sustainable development.”
There are no measures proposed to protect coastlines, streams and rivers, heritage sites, or key sites for bio-diversity.
“We hope that these maps will serve to bring the issues to the attention of legislators and the public, and bring increasing pressure on government to embark on an integrated and visionary planning approach for this magnificent and unique island,” says Loh.
Copies of the maps will be sent tomorrow to legislators, concern groups, consultative bodies, academics and the government departments responsible. Copies can be obtained on application from Civic Exchange (Tel: 2893 0213) and low resolution copies are available on Civic Exchange’s website at http://www.civic-exchange.org.
Contact:
Christine Loh, Civic Exchange, tel: 9802-8888
Clive Noffke, Green Lantau Association, tel: 6290 5870
Bob Bunker, Living Islands Movement, tel: 9037-6407
Hong Kong Outdoors, HYPERLINK "https://www.hkoutdoors.com" http://www.hkoutdoors.com
新製作地圖突顯了大嶼山的天然美景所面臨的威脅
香港最大、最美麗的島嶼正面對的一連串發展
公共政策研究組織思匯政策研究所製作了兩幅大嶼山地圖，讓公眾了解大嶼山正受到一連串及前所未有的發展項目所造成的威脅。其中一幅地圖名為《美麗的大嶼山》，它展示出大嶼山現有的天然資源是獨特和無價的；另一幅名為《大嶼山石屎規劃》的地圖，則說明發展建議對大嶼山可能構成的影響。
思匯行政總監陸恭蕙稱：「美麗的大嶼山擁有聳山峻嶺與幽谷、令人目不暇給的優美海岸線及豐富的生物多樣性。它不單是香港、也是整個華南地區不可或缺的市肺。然而，現時政府已準備了一份由其主導的報告書，當中包括多項缺乏計畫的發展建議；一旦落實這些建議，將會對華南這最後一塊大自然靜土，造成無可挽救的破壞。」
政府於《大嶼山發展概念計劃》列出多項發展建議，當中包括興建橫跨珠江直達珠海市的大橋，以及大規模的填海工程以興建工業園、酒店，以及剷平沿岸樹林來興建石屎單車徑；另外，《概念計劃》並沒有提及一些項目，包括在景緻獨特的大澳，進行達245公頃的填海工程，作為有待落實的貨櫃碼頭，以及於公眾諮詢時已選定為海岸保護區的索罟群島上，興建液態天然氣站。
綠色大嶼山協會成員Clive Noffke說：「大嶼山已成為所有發展計劃的『願望樹』；包羅萬有的建議包括賭場、賽車場、滑草場，以及在最美麗的天然海灘上建設一個人工沙灘。」
已荒廢的稻田旁還有不少散落的村莊，而稻田上不少黃牛和水牛遊歷於昔日的工作間，彷彿在緬懷過往的日子。由於大嶼山一直以來缺乏道路，與外界隔絕，因此很多廟宇都以此為修行之地，大嶼山亦因而能夠保存其本身的特色，不像城市般瘋狂地發展起來。
不少香港人都愛上大嶼山的醉人風光、景緻迷人的海灘，以及享受與大自然融為一體所帶來的平和與滿足。時至今日，除了一群群的青少年會到訪大嶼山作課程考察外，還有很多本港郊遊人士、遠足人士、露營人士及海外旅客皆被大嶼山深深吸引而到訪。「大嶼山發展專責小組」主席財政司司長唐英年，亦曾承認大嶼山是香港最大、最美麗的島嶼。
但是如果倡導發展大嶼山的人一意孤行，一切的改變只會陷入無可挽救的境地。Noffke稱：「《概念計劃》聲稱政府旨在達致可持續發展，並會就發展與保育作出平衡。然而政府只着重發展，但卻隻字不提與可持續發展有密切關係的未來主人翁——
我們的下一代，當中更沒有提及可持續發展的定義。」另外，《概念計劃》並沒有列舉措施保護海岸線、河流、溪澗、文化遺跡、景色，以及具有豐富生物多樣性的主要地點。
陸恭蕙表示：「我們希望這些地圖能夠讓立法會議員和公眾，意識到大嶼山正面對的問題，繼而向政府施壓，要求政府以綜合的方式，規劃這壯麗和獨特的島嶼。」
我們將於明天遞送地圖予各立法會議員、關注團體、諮詢機構、學府及有關的政府部門。如欲索取地圖，請聯絡思匯（電話：28930213），亦可於思匯網頁（www.civic-exchange.org）下載低解像度的網上版地圖。
聯絡人資料：
思匯政策研究所，陸恭蕙小姐，電話：9802-8888
綠色大嶼山協會，Clive Noffke先生，電話：6290 5870
島嶼活力行動，Bob Bunker先生，電話：9037-6407
Hong Kong Outdoors，網址：www.hkoutdoors.com
PRESS RELEASE – 2 MAY 2006
Visit us at 網址: HYPERLINK "http://www.civic-exchange.org" http://www.civic-exchange.org
ROOM 701, HOSEINEE HOUSE, 69 WYNDHAM STREET, CENTRAL, HONG KONG
香港中環雲咸街69號賀善尼 商業大廈701室
TEL電話: (852) 2893-0213 FAX 傳真: (852) 3105-9713
新聞稿 — 2006年5月2日
from Designing Hong Kong Harbour District:
Harbour Views: What is your plan for Central and Tamar?
Do you agree with Government? Do you agree with the harbour planners? Do you have other ideas? Do you want a better plan? Here is your chance – three constructive events to help Government and politicians create a harbour-front Hong Kong residents can proudly take their guests to.
OUR TAMAR DAY
This Sunday, April 30, 2006, 2:30 to 5:00 pm, on TamarOn this last day before Tamar closes to the public, you can your voice be heard and to let your ideas be seen. You are invited to make or bring a kite with your wish for Tamar, and help break the record for kite flying in Hong Kong. As there is lots of space, anyone with a performance or activity is welcome to make this a fun day.
‘Our Tamar Day’ is organized by Action Group on Protection of the Harbour, United Social Service Central Limited, Office of Legislative Councilor Dr Kwok Ka Ki, Society for the Protection of the Harbour, Hong Kong Alternatives, Friends of the Harbour and Designing Hong Kong Harbour District.
COMMUNITY PLANNING IN ACTION: CENTRAL AND TAMAR (1)
Next week, Sunday, May 7, 2006, 2:30 to 5:00pm, Caritas Hall, 2 Caine RoadGovernment, business, political parties and NGO’s are invited to present their ideas for Central and Tamar. Following the presentation, the Public is invited to join a debate and discuss the pros and cons of each proposal.
COMMUNITY PLANNING IN ACTION: CENTRAL AND TAMAR (2)
Next month, Sunday, May 21, 2006, 2:30 to 5:00pm, Edinburgh SquareWith the information gathered on May 7, the Public is now invited to participate in a design charrette. This highly interactive process allows you to draw your ideas for the best urban, transport and marine plan for Central and Tamar.
The ‘Community Planning in Action’ events are organized by the Central and Western District Council together with Citizen Envisioning & Harbour – an alliance which includes the Business Environment Council, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong, Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Hong Kong, Conservancy Association, Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Hong Kong People’s Council for Sustainable Development, American Institute of Architects – Hong Kong Chapter, Designing Hong Kong Harbour District, LIVE.Architecture Programme, Department of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Urban Design Alliance, Save Our Shorelines, Sustainable Development Concept Magazine “SEE”, Central and Western District Development Concern Group, Division on Building Science and Technology City University, Hong Kong Council for Social Services, Caritas Mok Cheung Sui Kun Community Centre, Caritas Community Centre – Caine Road, St. James’ Settlement, Hong Kong Christian Service.
Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/04/25 03:51
South China Morning Post article, April 2006 (sadly, not linkable as must be scmp subscriber to view articles), included:
Quote:A new battle in the hostilities between environmentalists and Sun
Hung Kai Properties is looming over Sham Chung, one of Hong Kong’s most
precious wetlands.Five green groups have sent submissions to the Town Planning Board,
in which they demand more stringent measures to protect the Sai Kung
wetlands from irreparable damage.They are Green Power, the Conservancy Association, WWF Hong Kong,
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden and the Eco-Education and Resources
Centre.They are going head-to-head with Land Bright Development and Land
Honest Development, two subsidiaries of Sun Hung Kai Properties.The companies [sic] are urging the board to permit an 8.39 hectare spa
resort project and make more land available for a housing development.If the property giant’s proposal is approved, there will be a resort
hotel, houses, a helicopter landing pad and private clubs at Sham Chung.Gotta hope the green groups’ views are heard.
A helicopter pad etc etc, for goodness sake!Hi Steen:
Yes, I know the tree; photographed orange-bellied leafbird there some years ago, tho best flowers for these seem to be in coral tree outside the toilet block (!) – too high for photos.
Used to be a nearby tree w mistletoe at great height for shots of scarlet-backed flowerpecker, but seems AFCD removed this to make a parking space.
Lovely shot!
Martin
email w campaign news
IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY SIGNED UP DO NOW!
there are over 200 members now – that would go a long way in
fighting this battle! come on guys do something for the community –
it will take 2 minutes!!!!SAVE OUR TRAILS UPDATE
First and foremost THANK YOU all very much for your support
It has become obvious to us that this is a far bigger and more wide
spread problem than we first thought!Wiith all the mails we have received – to date over 170 – it has
become clear to us that their are enough people out there concerned
over the urbanising of our country parks, that we should continue
with our effortsi would like to state that in our first email that was sent out we
specifically targeted the AFCD as the culprits for the ruination of
the trails, we have lately learned that this is not nessesarily the
case. other departments such as WSD HAS are far more guilty.Yes the AFCD have been over zealouss in places (lady Clementi’s to
name one) but overall they do some good work. It seems that they are
not the true gaurdians of our country parks and other departments
can go in there and pretty much do as they please. There seems to be
no guidelines or policy for what work is done, that is something we
would like to address.You may be familiar with our objectives, but before we approach any
government bodies we would like to have a body of evidence. As it is
the holiday weekend im certain quite a lot of you will be using this
time to escape the claustraphobic confines of the city and head out
into our country parks. Im therefore urging all of you to please
take a camera and help us to gather evidence of poor or unwarranted
trail work – the more information you can provide the better. An
ideal situation would be if you actually have old photos of the
trail before the work was done, this way we can compare and contrastIt neednt be all bad – if you see some work that you consider to be
good please take that too, there is some good work going on out
there and we dont want to discourage it. In fact having photographic
evidence of good trailwork will also work to our advantage!and finally
Please pass the email onto as many people as possible (without
spamming them) We really want to get the local community involved as
much as possibleThank you
Shaun
