From Mr. Simon F.S. Li & Mr. Winston K.S. Chu

The Government's widely publicized response to our recent Public Message has not answered our fundamental concern that there should be a proper public consultation for the Tamar Project before Government seeks funding from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council scheduled for the 23 rd of this month.

The Government's response has also failed to satisfactorily address the following environmental and other concerns which are fundamental to the Government's Tamar proposal.

•  Why the Need - The Government has not satisfactorily explained why there is a need to move 3,270 Government staff to the Tamar Site when only 5 years ago in October 2000, the Government had publicly advocated selling the Tamar Site to real estate developers. Furthermore, since then, the civil service has shrunk in size from 190,000 to the present 160,000.

•  Alternatives – The Government has not satisfactorily explained why alternative sites (e.g. Kai Tak) are not being considered; why the existing Central Government Offices cannot be renovated; and whether the present Government sites will be sold to real estate developers after relocation to Tamar.

•  Taking Away Public Assets - The Government's claim that two hectares of the Tamar Site have been given up for public enjoyment as open space is misleading. The Outline Zoning Plan has always legally zoned these two hectares as open space for a ‘Civic Square' for public enjoyment. Therefore, the Government is taking the entire Tamar Site of 3 hectares (300,000 sq.ft.) of public land and $5.2 billion of public funds for its own use and enjoyment and should justify its proposal to the public.

•  Traffic Congestion - According to the Report published by the Government's Transport Department, the Tamar Project will additionally attract 3,210 vehicles per hour to Central. The Tamar Project together with five other development projects proposed by the Government for the Central Harbourfront will additionally attract a total of 7,623 vehicles per hour to Central. This will aggravate traffic congestion especially during peak hours. As a result by 2016, Central and Wanchai will again experience unacceptable traffic congestion which may necessitate further reclamation.

•  Air Pollution - According to an expert report recently published, already Hong Kong's “concentration of air pollution exceeded World Health Organisation Standards by 200%”. The additional traffic attracted to Central by the Tamar Project and the five development projects will worsen the air quality for which the Government has not been able to suggest any remedy.

•  People's Enjoyment of the Harbour - The more than 40-storey high Central Government Offices on Tamar will create a ‘wall effect' blocking airflow and harbour views. Government offices (like those in Wanchai) will be dead after office hours. Despite Government's promises to make the harbour “attractive, vibrant, accessible and symbolic of Hong Kong”, what the Government is proposing for Tamar will achieve just the opposite and will degrade people's enjoyment of the harbour.

•  No Urgency - The Government has not demonstrated any urgency nor any reason why funding should be approved even before the above concerns are satisfactorily resolved and before what the Government is proposing to build on Tamar is made known to the public. Therefore, the Legislative Council, as a responsible guardian of public interests, should insist on a proper public consultation before approving the funding.

As the Government is taking away valuable assets from the public for the Government's own self-interest, it should act fairly and objectively and should not be seen to be forcing the matter through the Legislative Council with undue haste.

The Government should not act as a judge of its own cause but should respect the opinion and wishes of Hong Kong people who are the rightful owners of both the Tamar Site and $5.2 billion of public money. Afterall, all of us will be the victims of any adverse environmental impact that may be caused by the Tamar Project.

It is our sincere aspiration that the Tamar Site and the whole of the Central Harbourfront could truly be reserved for public enjoyment and not only by the Government's lip-service. We have no wish to argue the matter with the Government, but as the Government had directed its recent public message at us, we are obliged to present to the public the reasons for our present reservations.

For the above reasons, we ask the Government not to apply for funding until a proper public consultation shall have been conducted. The Government owes the people of Hong Kong such a duty.