Interchange under the new Wong Chuk Hang station in Southern district connects Ocean Park to the Aberdeen waterfront
ERNEST.KAO@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Monday, 04 April, 2016, 8:07pm
Southern district councillors Tsui Yuen-wa (left), Paul Zimmerman (centre) and Chai Man-hon lamented the appearance of the project compared to initial plans. Photo: David Wong
Southern district councillors have branded an HK$18 million public transport interchange built by the MTR under the new Wong Chuk Hang station the “ugliest piece of public transport infrastructure” in the city.
Councillors said the unappealing sight of exposed lighting fixtures, drainage and piping, bare concrete columns, poor natural lighting and lack of greenery was a far cry from concept images provided when the taxpayer-funded project began five years ago.
“This is Kwun Tong, but worse. It is a dark alley of concrete and exposed pipes,” said councillor Paul Zimmerman. “This area is supposed to become a nice hotel district but the project has destroyed the entire Heung Yip Road.
“This is the ugliest piece of public transport infrastructure you can get.”
The 2,200 square metre project, which snakes through Heung Yip Road under the eastern section of the South Island Line, connects Ocean Park to the Aberdeen waterfront. It provides bus and minibus stations, taxi stands and loading and unloading bays.
“The final product is not what was shown to us,” said councillor Chai Man-hon, pointing to original concept images which featured planters and a covered walkway for commuters, both of which were missing from the facility during a site visit on Monday.
“Part of the budget was for beautification, but I don’t see anything beautiful here. I question where all this money was spent.”
The councillors threatened to take the issue to the Ombudsman if improvements were not made.
The MTR confirmed the project was “substantially completed” and no further beautification work would be carried out. The project will be handed over to the Highways Department by the summer.
“As the project was publicly funded, the design had to be simple and practical,” an MTR spokesman said.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1933591/ugliest-piece-public-transport-infrastructure-hong
