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Hi starcinary:
I’ve replied to your email re interview on Sai Kung – Charles Frew likely best for this; maybe can also do some guff on Lantau before long.
Martin
Hi Jerry:
I think HK people are concerned, but with this a chronic problem, and deaths not real spectacular and in public eye (and, I think, air pollution rarely if ever proven to be cause of illness/death), seems no great impetus to get on street.
Much of govt probably is pretty complacent; not much public pressure re pollution, but pressure for development. Then, a lot of pollution here is cross-border, and that’s tougher – leaders very focused on development, and even though there seems to be appreciation that pollution is severe and a problem, actually doing hard stuff to tackle it maybe seen as even tougher.
I’ve been here 18 years, seen much talk but little action re air pollution. (Seemed a plus when tougher emission levels caused many factories to close in Tsuen Wan area – but then, factories popped up over border, essentially unregulated [regulations are there, but who bothers about such trivia?])
Also a plus to have LPG for taxis, light buses.
But look at the obstacles placed before trolley buses, which Citybus keen on. And still the love of highways (by, gasp!, dept responsible for highways) – like the silly road being built over Stonecutters; harbour reclamation being – we’re told – driven by need to improve highway system, while electronic road pricing etc languish. Bah!Martin
Post edited by: Martin, at: 2005/04/22 11:22
Hi Ben:
Thanks for the supportive message.
To my surprise, been invited to attend the meeting of the Planning, Lands and Works panel, re Lantau.
Martin
Hi Loy and Tom:
Haven’t seen the Lantau Post, but Loy has also asked if ok to interview me for it (which would be fine by me; gotta phone and say so).
Fine by me to use some of my material; hmm… could be a way of getting a Chinese translation, too! (Tho when I last tried, had some problems trying to post a Chinese language piece to this site.)
Martin
article here on daft development projects – and env woes – in Pearl River delta, in 1999; mentions the Zhuhai Int Airport, which cost US$240 million, yet handles only few flights a day – wasn’t expected to break even till 2005 :
http://www.businessweek.com/1997/03/b351075.htmZhuhai again, in autumn 2003, dreaming of development as eastern Pearl River delta and hoping the bridge will be key:
http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2003/0904/fe21-1.html(while HK, to me, needs this bridge like a hole in the head)
If the HK-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge, nw Lantau container terminal and n Lantau theme park are built, will they add to the white elephants in the Pearl River delta? – draining on economies, damaging to environment?
HK, of course, has already added its own white elephants to those in the delta – Cyberport, for instance, is a shining example.
SCM Post today has article saying Shenzhen life is marred by food, smog and traffic
– get bad-air days; acid rain; dirty rivers
Comes not long after the mayor (I believe) told a visiting British politician that Shenzhen’s ways were unsustainable; need change if to remain a viable place.So, which would HK people prefer for Lantau?
– developments akin to Shenzhen (and Kwai Chung); or more along lines of ark-eden?
Hopefully, can get messages out, see what HK people would really prefer.Mind you, I’ve also read that the bridge construction should start by end of this year. (Anyone in HK except Gordon Wu and Henry Tang agree to this?) Once that’s started, surely other projects will be rolled out; gotta recoup that bridge money somehow.
Video of nasa satellite images here, showing Shenzhen’s rapid growth – and obliteration of much greenery. Seems to me growth along north Lantau could be as fast, and as greenery smothering.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002700/a002761/I did a website for some holiday flats a while ago, but sadly seems long since deceased.
Found some holiday flats are real pleasant, IKEA furniture etc; others not too good.
Best way, then, may be to come over to the island; look for booths to left of ferry pier as you arrive, and leaf thro photos in albums, have a look at any flats that appeal to you.Warwick Hotel is also ok, tho perhaps a little pricey at walk-in rates (for what you get); maybe there are net rates that are good. (maybe I’ll look into trying to offer here, too)
quick google search, and just found website for Long Coast Seasports
Yes, seems great potential for converting village houses for tourism, inc aimed at HK city residents. But authorities generally useless here – cf Tourism Commission with ideas for spa-resort (and conference centre) at Cheung Sha. Villagers maybe often lack money; plus risky and maybe some red tape. While when developers get hold of land, they seem intent on major concreting, oblivious to potential of agri-tourism.
Good, tho, if can find and support small hostels etc.[url]Some time later: just been to Cheung Sha, and noticed Long Coast Seasports, next to the Stoep
– seems pleasant spot; far better than barmy grandiose spa resort mooted for Cheung Sha (a little to west of here?)Post edited by: martin, at: 2005/11/20 19:08[/url]
email from ed:
it’s a Conservancy Assoc and Central Dist project, running left and right of the line from the Peak Tram Station on Garden Rd up to Barker Rd, with 14 points of interest along the way.
from Paul Zimmerman:
Note analyst news below and impact on Lantau debate:
1. HK lost control over the Tonggu Channel – Shenzhen will dredge the
longer route (400mill more) outside HK waters. (Bye bye dolphins)2. Shenzhen will move villages to create room for port expansion.
Relevant impact for Lantau:
3. Capacity constraint in container handling in the PRD has been moved
out by a decade or more – removing the need for urgency with CT10.
(b) Regarding Shenzhen, this is the latest according to the press.
Shenzhen is about to embark on an expansion of its Yantian container
port that shippingindustry specialists say will increase its efficiency. Plans call for
threevillages adjacent to the Yantian terminal to be relocated to make way
for an international logistics center with gross floor area of 300,000
square meters (30 hectares), according to an official of the Yantian
district government.According to the press, additionally the Shenzhen municipal government
has also begun dredging in December a western route which falls just
outside the HK jurisdiction to allow deep sea water vessels direct
access to Shenzhen. For HW, they have a stake in Yantian port in
Shenzhen anyway. A key reason for HW expanding to China was that Hong
Kong was always expected to face competition from the mainland ports. We
expect China ports to become increasingly important for HW vs Hong Kong
ports.Post edited by: Martin, at: 2005/03/25 11:49
Hi Tom:
Thanks for this – hadn’t seen the comments.
Wasn’t quite as scary as I thought before checking it – had expected “Liberals” to be supportive of concreting every possible corner. Still, some curious ideas – not just the breakwater, but the idea of turning Cheung Sha into a “Sporty and Trendy Town”. Hmm…. 😡
Can’t some people like these figure that it’s best not to mess with lovely places like this? Some promotion could bring people to Cheung Sha, could then generate income through relatively low key places, like the Stoep and neighbours; also making for something else for visitors to do on Lantau, helping island as a whole.
They’re right, tho, to question weather here – not just northeasterlies; also southwest monsoon, monsoon rains, summer heat, winter chills…And that casino idea – what’s that all about? Lantau really needs this kind of thing? – I don’t think so. Letter to the SCMP today suggested turning Cyberport into a casino – seems far better idea to me. Or maybe there’s some space near Selina Chow’s and/or James Tien’s homes?
(If a casino’s built: what happens if n when mainland China opens a few casinos of its own?)Martin
Post edited by: Martin, at: 2005/03/22 18:17
Tung Ping Chau has been depopulated for a few decades; down to maybe one or two elderly men I think.
Move out coincided with widespread exodus from more remote HK farming areas, around 1970s I think, as farming became uncompetitive here, and cities lured (HK, and overseas). I also heard something re islanders experiencing problems with some people who came from mainland, burgling houses.Association of Engineering Professionals seemingly support concrete, concrete concrete (no huge surprise there, I guess) see point f, for instance – There should be encouragement for the development of hotels, conference centres, factory outlets and seaside resorts along the San Shek Wan for the business travellers and Ngong Ping tourists. err, surely Ngong Ping tourists are heading for a Buddhist temple and statue, with great scenery; do they really want such a concrete nightmare as well?
just heard that West Kln Cultural District consultation to be extended by three months.
If possible for this, surely major consultation extension also possible for far bigger Lantau plans.Though govt claims an enthusiastic response to the concept plan, the Hong Kong Democratic Foundation appears critical in its response;
In concluding paragraph, says:Quote:Our vision for Lantau starts with its beauty, dramatic landscape and unspoilt wilderness.http://www.hkdf.org/pr.asp?func=show&pr=151
Post edited by: Martin, at: 2005/04/07 16:25
