(Translation)
A Summary of the 3rd Meeting of the
3rd Wan Chai District Council
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The 3rd Wan Chai District Council (WCDC) held its 3rd meeting on 18 March
2008 and discussed the following issues:
1. Visit by Director of Lands
Director of Lands briefed the Council on the land administration work of the
Department as well as the recent land development in Wan Chai District.
District Councillors then expressed views on public open space in private estates,
illegal occupation of government land, vacant government land in Causeway
Bay, short-term lease, pull-up stands and other land administration issues.
2. Proposal of Developing a Government Helipad at Hong Kong Convention
and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
3. Adding Vibrancy to the Wan Chai Waterfront: Building a Properly Planned
Shared Use Heliport
Representatives of Transport and Housing Bureau, Security Bureau, Civil
Aviation Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department,
Government Flying Service and consultancy firm briefed District Councillors on
the Proposal of Developing a Government Helipad at Hong Kong Convention
and Exhibition Centre. At the meeting, Hong Kong Regional Heliport Working
group also introduced their proposal, “Adding Vibrancy to the Wan Chai
Waterfront: Building a Properly Planned Shared Use Heliport”.
Councillors opined that while the government was to develop a public-private
shared use helipad, it had to take the future development of Wan Chai into
consideration, with particular emphases of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, Shatin
to Central Link and the Extension of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
Centre and etc. Councillors also raised questions on the number of flights, noise
emitted, air current, oil pollution, environmental optimization of the whole area
and outlook of the noise barriers. Councillors further wished that the helipad
could be commissioned in phases and the District Council possessed the
monitoring power for the residents.
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4. Proposal of a Pedestrian Subway Connecting MTR Wan Chai Station and
Lee Tung Street/McGregor Street (H15) Redevelopment Project
Representative of Urban Renewal Authority (URA) introduced the captioned
project that they had accepted WCDC’s request and worked with MTR
Corporation to solve the north/south bound pedestrian congestion problem in
Wan Chai by a proposed subway connecting the south of Johnston Road (i.e.
beside H15 Project) and MTR Wan Chai Station. Among the three proposed
routes, the west route, which connects the south up to the location of the public
toilet adjacent to the Southorn Basketball Courts, was deemed to be the most
feasible. This subway would be jointly built by the URA and MTR
Corporation where the MTR would be responsible for the construction while the
cost would be borne by the URA.
District Councillors supported the construction of the subway and accepted the
choice of the west route. They further suggested the construction be carried out
in phases so as to minimize the impact to the basketball courts.
5. Implementation of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Broadcasting
Representatives of Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and Office of
the Telecommunications Authority briefed District Councillors on the
implementation of the DTT broadcasting, including the benefits of digital
television, coverage area, launching, programme channels, broadcasting
regulatory measures, reception situation of existing analogue television
broadcasting, DTT receptor labelling scheme, promotion and environmental
issues of DTT broadcasting.
6. Proposal on Legislation to Ban Idling Vehicles
Representative of Environmental Protection Department introduced the
captioned paper to the Council. Under the proposal, all vehicles, except those
exempted under prescribed circumstances, must comply with the regulation of
switching off their vehicle engines while waiting. The proposed legislation
would be implemented by fixed penalty of $320. Consultation of the proposal
would last until end of March. The Government would then carefully consider
all suggestions and make detailed arrangements to seek support of the
Legislative Council.
District Councillors generally supported the proposal. They also asked about
whether frequent switching on/off of the vehicle engines would emit waste gas
and impair the life span of the vehicles, resources for implementing the
legislation and air quality issues.
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7. Urging the Administration to Provide Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Service at Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospital (RTSKH)
In response to the above written question, representative of the Hospital
Authority (HA) expressed that MRI did have a better analyzing ability to
different diseases and pathological symptoms. It would be beneficial to
patients if Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, a hospital of accident and
emergency services, was alloted a MRI device. Being short of resources, HA
had to a make review first. At present, they would send urgent patients to
private hospitals or laboratories for paid services while some would be sent to
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
District Councillors urged the representative to reflect the Council’s view to HA
for putting the MRI service in place for the residents of Wan Chai.
8. Proposal on Facilitating Private Sector’s Redevelopment Efforts
District Councillors expressed different views in discussing the above written
question. Some regarded that the right of private property should be respected
and should not be deprived by legislation while some considered that the
benefits of the majority should be preserved so that the pace of redevelopment
of the old tenements could be hastened.
Wan Chai District Council Secretariat
April 2008
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