‘Save Our Harbour’ Campaign extended

(31/12/2004)

Society for Protection of the Harbour collect Signatures at the Central Star Ferry pier.	An exhibition is held in the campus of The University of Hong Kong.

100,000 Citizen Support “Protect the Harbour Signature Campaign”

The Signature Campaign organized by the Society for Protection of the Harbour received very enthusiastic support from different sectors of the Hong Kong community including Legislative Council members from different political parties, students from universities, secondary and primary schools and local and foreign citizens. We have collected more than 100,000 signatures up to now and we have already exceeded our target. However, many schools and other organizations have requested us to extend the time limit for the Signature Campaign in order to give them the opportunity to collect more signatures. Our Society has therefore decided to extend the signature campaign for three more months up to the end of March next year.

The on-going Central Reclamation work is permanently and irreparably damaging the Central Harbour, and is turning our Victoria Harbour into the ‘ Victoria River’. When completed, the narrowest distance between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon will only be 800 metres. By then, Hong Kong will only have a river like the Whampoa River in Shanghai. The most precious natural asset and heritage of Hong Kong people, our Victoria Harbour, will be permanently damaged.

Government Employing Delaying Tactics Regarding Application for Change of Land Use

In the past few months, the Government has ignored the objections of the people of Hong Kong and continued the large scale Central Reclamation works. The reclamation project in fact has never been reviewed by the Town Planning Board in accordance with the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance as correctly interpreted by the Court of Final Appeal. To prevent the Government from selling the reclaimed land instead of reserving the land for use by the public, the Society has made submission to the Town Planning Board to review and rezone. We hope that the support of our Signature Campaign by the public will pass a clear message to the Town Planning Board.

“ Love Harbour Day” activity to be Organised by the Society

The Society is organizing the “Protect Victoria Harbour With Heart” March to be held at the end of February 2005. Citizens taking part in this event will stand together to form a “big heart” pattern to show their commitment to protect the harbour. To demonstrate their objection to the Central Reclamation, they will march from the Wanchai waterfront to the Central waterfront holding the sheets of signatures collected during the Signature Campaign to form a long queue. The signatures collected will then be formally presented to the Chief Executive-in-Council.

Many Legco members will take part in this meaningful March with the organizers of the Society. Details of this event will be given during the Press Conference in February.