- Target:
- HKU staff, students and alumni
- Region:
- Hong Kong
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
In the Policy Address of 2011-2012, the Chief Executive proposed “Enhancing Land Supply Strategy” and suggested starting the investigation on the possible reclamation sites outside the Victoria Harbour. On 4th January, the government released 25 possible reclamation sites for public discussion. One of the sites is Sandy Bay in Pokfulam, right in front of Stanley Ho Sports Centre of HKU.
Stanley Ho Sports Centre (SHSC) has been an important sports field of HKU students for years. From regular practices to inter-hall and inter-faculty competitions, SHSC has become an inseparable part of campus life. If the reclamation project is launched, it will impose severe threats to the operation of SHSC. Whether the centre can continue its normal operation is in question. Even if it remains open, the reclamation project will cause serious air and noise pollution, disturbing students’ sports activities and threatening their health.
In addition, a large number of construction trucks are needed to transport fill materials for reclamation. A number of primary and secondary schools, housing estates, HKU Faculty of Medicine, Sassoon Road halls, HKU Staff Residence and Stanley Ho Sports Centre are situated on the transportation network. The reclamation will exacerbate the already-serious traffic congestion problem in the district together with the increasing number of university students brought by the 3-3-4 curriculum, bringing immediate and serious impacts to students and staff of Faculty of Medicine, those living in Sassoon Road halls as well as the staff residing in the district.
From an environmental point of view, the reclamation project will affect the marine environment of Sandy Bay. The harm to marine environment by reclamation is permanent and irreversible. The kind of development ideology of undergoing unlimited reclamation to satisfy unrestrained population growth is very dangerous to Hong Kong in the long-term. A reasonable and sustainable population policy, instead of seeking for reclamation, should be the best solution to Hong Kong’s problem.
This is the last week of the Stage 1 public engagement: to determine the site selection criteria. Residents and stakeholders affected by the Sandy Bay reclamation proposal can submit their views to the government right now.
We are the staff and students of the University of Hong Kong, a university located at Pokfulam in Hong Kong Island.
As a part of the Pokfulam community, we express our firm opposition to the government's proposal of Sandy Bay reclamation. We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts brought by the project to students' sports activities and health. We would not accept the government to sacrifice the transportation of the district for the reclamation project. We care about the marine environment of Hong Kong and our next generation’s fortune.
We live, study and teach in the Pokfulam community. We share the feelings of Pokfulam residents. To safeguard our common interest as well as the future of Hong Kong, we object to the reclamation proposal on Sandy Bay and demand respect from the government.
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The HKU Community Say "NO" to Sandy Bay Reclamation Project petition to HKU staff, students and alumni was written by SUEAS and is in the category City & Town Planning at GoPetition.