'No Need To Change Harbour Protection Law'

A concern group on Tuesday described the government’s plan to amend the Protection of Harbour Ordinance as unnecessary, saying the lifting of safeguards could harm the Victoria Harbour.

The ordinance stipulates that the iconic harbour is to be protected and preserved as a "special public asset" and "natural heritage" for Hong Kong. While it discourages reclamation, projects can go ahead if they fulfill an "overriding public need" requirement.

The Development Bureau said earlier this month that it wants to revise the ordinance to make it easier to push through its waterfront improvement projects.

But the group's advisor, Paul Zimmerman, said many of these projects – such as building piers and promenades – are unaffected by the ordinance, as they already meet the public interest criteria.

"If you have to do some reclamation so that people enjoy the harbour better, then that is already permitted under the law," he said.

"The government themselves have a great example. The boardwalk in North Point is proceeding. It includes reclamation and the government does not have problems building it. The damage to the harbour is minimal and is proportional to the gain of the public.”

The advisor said he is worried that amending the ordinance may encourage excessive reclamation, and urged the government to clearly lay out its reclamation plans to facilitate public discussion.