Protestors argue there has not been a proper consultation exercise and that the park provides the neighbourhood with much needed recreational space
DANNY.LEE@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Friday, 04 December, 2015, 7:01am
UPDATED : Friday, 04 December, 2015, 7:01am
Around 1,400 signatures from residents objecting the demolition of the park have been collected. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Campaigners fighting to save a Kennedy Town park from being bulldozed for private housing are urging lawmakers to reject a HK$1 billion funding request to decontaminate the harbourfront area.
The Cadogan Street Temporary Park, located near the tram terminus, sits within an area in the western district of Kennedy Town scheduled to be transformed into a mix of private and public residential housing, commercial development and extension of the promenade.
The Legislative Council’s finance committee is expected to approve a HK$1.1 billion funding request.
Decontamination of the site, over three hectares of land, is expected to conclude in 2024.
In a last-ditch attempt to galvanise support for residents and supporters opposed to the closure and demolition of the park, campaigners urged people to lobby all lawmakers before the meeting on Friday.
“We have collected around 1,400 signatures from residents objecting to the demolition of the park in a short period of time. This objection is rising over time. We petition for all legislative councillors to reject the appropriation of funds for the decontamination work [and] convince the government to conserve the park and make it permanent,” the petition said.
Deep underneath the park ground is contaminated soil, which authorities say does not pose an immediate risk to public health.
Almost two decades ago, the park replaced part of site which stood next to an incinerator. Shuttering the park will mean the cutting down of around 200 trees.
Campaigners argue there has not been a proper consultation exercise and that the park provides the neighbourhood with much needed recreational space, which they will miss if development goes ahead.
Urban planning expert Paul Zimmerman of Designing Hong Kong, said: “The park area is healthy, it’s clean. Kids are playing there every day. Trees are growing in abundance and doing very well. There is no real and urgent need to dig open the park area,” he said.
“A new park and wider open space is expected to be created as part of the redevelopment. The property development could be moved forward closer to the harbourfront and possibly move the development, so why kill the park if it’s not entirely necessary?” he added.
Zimmerman cited a study of the park’s trees, conducted by expert Ken So from the Conservancy Association, who assessed that more than 100 trees in the park are mature and healthy. Among the potential losses are 16 Banyan trees.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1886319/campaigners-urge-lawmakers-reject-hk1b-funding
