There is more to progress than meaningless construction projects
2009-09-06 EDT10 | EDT
South China Morning Post

I would like to support the comments made by Gordon Andreassend concerning the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge ("Future generations will be saddled with consequences of absurd bridge", August 30).

It is unfortunate that our government equates progress with the spending of large sums of money on road-building projects that destroy our environment.

This bridge is completely unnecessary and will be a huge white elephant. The government should be working to save money, not spend more of it.

Another meaningless road the Hong Kong taxpayer will be saddled with is the new Central-Wan Chai bypass, which will further impinge on our harbour.

With the recent building of the International Commercial Centre in Kowloon, the amount of traffic to Central will be reduced, not increased, so the perceived need for the bypass is flawed.

Instead of building roads, the government should look at ways of allowing people to walk along the harbourfront, as other great cities have done.

No other city would even contemplate building a highway along its waterfront. A long walkway with cafes and bars would be a much better way of spending the money that has been earmarked for the bypass. This could be done on Kowloon side too with a walkway with facilities such as cycle paths running from Tsim Sha Tsui towards Tsuen Wan.

Finally I feel for the inhabitants of Lamma, which has been targeted by a developer for a resort.

One of the best things about travelling to Yung Shue Wan is the fact that it is relatively undeveloped and has a character of its own.

I do hope the government will put a stop to this monstrous scheme. At the same time it should kill the idea of the piazza planned for the site of the Tsim Sha Tsui bus terminus at the Star Ferry. Do we really need more shops?

The government needs to focus on taking care of what little culture, heritage and history remains in Hong Kong, instead of keeping the construction industry busy with meaningless projects and giving developers the freedom to destroy the environment.

Martin Reynolds, Tai Kok Tsui

(上次更新: 2010-03-27)