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Subject: Kowloon Park development 開發九龍公園 [Print This Page]
Author: HKBWS Chuan    Time: 17/08/2019 23:08     Subject: Kowloon Park development 開發九龍公園




【Underground Space Development at Kowloon Park】Implant concrete in green lung for money?

Kowloon Park is a green lung in the urban area and an urban refuge for wildlife. It is also a popular birding place. However, when it comes to the "Stage 2 Public Engagement", Kowloon Park was selected among the four strategic urban areas to develop its underground space with priority. The government proposed an underground space with mainly underground shopping mall and carpark, which requires an extensive surface excavation. This damages the health and survival of the trees and eventually disturbs the roosting and foraging grounds for birds. We consider that it is unacceptable to diminish the ecological, social and amenity value of Kowloon Park for generating commercial value, and thus object to the proposed underground development at Kowloon Park.

Let’s take a look at the development proposal and take action to express your view!

***Deadline for submission: 21 August 2019 (Wed)***
Comments can be submitted to: info_urbanunderground@aecom.com

Reference:
>>Official Website for Stage 2 Public Engagement: https://bit.ly/33zH6G9
>>>Support our Bird Conservation works: http://bit.ly/2IbTkuK


【九龍公園地下空間發展】罔顧樹木生死 創造地下商機？

九龍公園是市區的綠肺，也是野生動物在城市中的居所，更是一個著名的城市觀鳥熱點。但來到「第二階段公眾參與」，九龍公園在四個策略性城市地區中被選為優先發展的地下空間。政府建議在九龍公園建造一個以購物商場和停車場為主的地下空間，需要進行大規模的挖掘，摧毀樹木的生存和健康，干擾鳥類的棲息和覓食。我們反對政府以商機取代九龍公園的生態及社會價值，因此反對九龍公園的地下空間發展方案。

在此鼓勵大家了解該計劃的詳情，以及主動表達您的訴求！

***提交意見截止日期：2019年8月21日***
意見可電郵至：info_urbanunderground@aecom.com

參考資料：
>>第二階段公眾參與網站：https://bit.ly/2OXLdbZ
>>>支持鳥類保育工作：http://bit.ly/2IbTkuK

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Author: HKBWS Chuan    Time: 17/08/2019 23:17

*HKBWS submission 香港觀鳥會意見書: 20190821_UndergroundSpace_2ndPE_HKBWS.pdf (912.18 KB)

HKBWS's Comments on the Stage 2 Public Engagement Digest for Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas

After the Stage 1 Public Engagement, Kowloon Park was selected among the four strategic urban areas to develop its underground space with priority. Kowloon Park is a green lung in the urban area and an urban refuge for wildlife. However, the proposed large scale underground development would bring undesirable ecological damage to this public amenity. The conceptual scheme is in fact an underground shopping mall with carpark accounting for 60% of the total underground space, while only about 15.6% is proposed for community facilities and public space. It is unacceptable to diminish the ecological, social and amenity value of Kowloon Park for generating commercial value. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS), therefore, would like to object to the underground development at Kowloon Park based on the following reasons.

Ecological and social values of Kowloon Park

Kowloon Park is located at the heart of the Kowloon Peninsula. With many old trees, extensive interconnected tree canopies and slightly elevated from the street level, the park creates tranquility within the hustle and bustle of the city. From an ecological perspective, Kowloon Park is a green lung in the urban area and an urban refuge for wildlife.

The egretry at Kowloon Park is the seventh largest colony among 21 colonies in Hong Kong in 2018. Kowloon Park consists of a total of 48 nests in Hong Kong [1] . This colony supports about 26% of the total number of nests of Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in Hong Kong. Therefore, the Kowloon Park egretry is an important egretry in Hong Kong and should be considered as “an important ecological habitat”.

In 2018, Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), that is the only species nest and breed at the egretry in Kowloon Park, is regarded as of “Local Concern” which is assessed based on the restrictedness in their nesting and/or roosting sites [2]. We thus consider they are bird species of conservation interest especially at their nesting and roosting sites. Yet, the egretry is at the immediate vicinity of the selected site for underground space development, hence the potential impacts on the birds should not be overlooked.

Moreover, Kowloon Park provides suitable habitats for both residents and migratory birds. According to HKBWS bird records, migratory bird species of conservation concern recorded in Kowloon Park include the globally near threatened Japanese Paradise Flycatcher [3] , Ferruginous Flycatcher (Muscicapa ferruginea) of potential regional concern [4], and Orange-headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina) of local concern [4]. The nationally rare and protected Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) was recorded breeding in the park. Other woodland associated migratory bird species such as Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki), Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta) and Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) were recorded in the park as well. We consider that the trees in Kowloon Park are suitable and important foraging/roosting grounds for birds.

As such, Kowloon Park is a popular birding place given its proximity to the city centre and its diverse bird life. HKBWS regularly holds birdwatching activities in the park every Friday morning, where visitors can enjoy the bird life together with the Society’s experienced members [5]. Kowloon Park is also one of the four sites selected for our elementary bird watching course field trips. In 2016 and 2017, we held our Sparrow Carnival in the Kowloon Park Piazza. The location is ideal to promote and educate the public about nature in urban areas, and allow them to experience the bird life within the park.

Direct habitat loss aroused from the proposed scale of development

From the public engagement digest Stage 1 and 2, it is repeatedly stated that Old and Valuable Trees (OVT) and densely vegetated areas would be excluded from the underground development by setting aside a buffering distance. As the root system of these trees in the park can be extensive, referring to both spread and depth, it is necessary to understand the root system prior to the planning stage. However, there is no information provided in both consultation papers to investigate the root system of the OVT in Kowloon Park, so as to demonstrate how the proposed construction area could protect the OVT against any potential adverse impacts.

Apart from the concerns about OVT, we consider that all other trees in the park are important for birds and should be adequately protected. All the aboveground and underground works of the development should not damage the canopies and root systems of the trees.

However, from the paper of Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas – Stage 2 Public Engagement Digest (the paper), surface excavation would be carried out for the construction of underground space (Figure 1). From Google Earth aerial photograph, most of the excavation site, which is about approximately 33,250 square metre and accounting for 25% of Kowloon Park area, is currently covered with tall trees (Figure 2). It is also mentioned in the Focus Group Meeting held on 5 June 2019 that there would be 300 trees affected under the proposed surface excavation works. We are concerned the underground works required may directly or indirectly damage the tree root systems and adversely affect the health and survival of these trees, which may in turn disturb the roosting and foraging grounds for birds.

“Top-down” construction method as a measure to minimize impacts is misleading

From the paper, the “top-down” construction technology is claimed “to minimize possible disruption to Kowloon Park” as compared to the conventional “bottom-up” construction. They emphasized that the current proposal would allow “early commencement if reinstatement works for the affected surface and resume part of the park activities while the underground excavation activities can continue”, and therefore the ‘disruption to the park could be lessened by “top-down” approach’ [6].

However, as mentioned in the previous section, the extensive surface excavation associated from the proposed“Top-down” construction method which will be associated with an extensive vegetation clearance and removal of trees, will cause serious disruption to the ecology of the park. Even if there is transplantation of some of the affected trees, the health of the tree is greatly compromised during the process and there is no guarantee that all tree individuals will healthily survive after the transplantation. We consider in-situ conservation should be regarded as the first priority whereas transplantation should be regarded as last resort for mitigation measure.

Moreover, the four diagrams at page 23 of the paper showing the construction procedures of the proposed “top-down” approach only illustrate the process of turning a “grassland” to a land covered with trees, giving the public a false impression that the proposed project will plant more trees in Kowloon Park and enhance its aesthetic value. This is misleading as the current status of the well-wooded Kowloon Park was not shown, while the works required to reach the “grassland” appearance in the first diagram (i.e. tree removal/ transplantation, site clearance and erection of hoardings) were hidden. (Figure 1)
Without mentioning the direct habitat loss resulted from the proposed “technology”, we consider that claiming the “top-down” approach could minimize the impacts by simply comparing it with the “bottom-up” approach is misleading. The proposed so-called “top-down” construction method is simply destructive to both the ecology and amenity of the park due to the massive surface excavation works.

Potential adverse impacts on bird life

The construction site is just 25m distance from the egretry. Given that breeding egrets/herons are susceptible to disturbance by human activities, we are concerned the construction of the underground space would greatly increase the disturbance from the lighting, human activities and noise to the egretry, thus deteriorate the habitat quality and potentially reduce the breeding success of the birds. In the worst case scenario, the egrets may eventually abandoned the site and may have adverse impacts on the viability of the egret/heron population. However, there is no measure proposed by the project proponent to avoid the potential undesirable impacts on the breeding egrets/herons.

Moreover, we are concerned the entrances/exits of the underground space created within Kowloon Park would change the visitor flow, thus may disrupt the tranquility of the park and create more disturbances to the birds and their habitats. The construction and operation of the proposed underground development may alter the composition of birds in the park and adversely affect the habitat quality for the birds to roost and forage.

The proposed underground space is not in line with the planning intention of “Open Space (O)” zoning

According to the Approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K1/28 , the proposed development is located within O zoning where is “intended primarily for the provision of outdoor public open-air space for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents as well as the general public.” Moreover, it is stated in the explanatory statement that “Kowloon Park is a large public open space which has district significance.”[7]

Public space is considered as the main feature to be provided by parks like Kowloon Park under O zoning. However, the proposed underground development provides only about 15.6% of underground space for community facilities and public space, while 60% of them are for commercial uses including retail/food and beverage facilities and parking facilities.

Such commercial-intensive development will not only undermine the “district significance” of embracing such a high ecological and social value in urban area due to the damaging construction works, but it is also not in line with the intention to provide public space for the residents and public.

[1] Anon, 2018. Summer 2018 Report: Egretry Counts in Hong Kong with particular reference to the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site. Report by The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
[2] Fellowes et al.: Fauna of Conservation Concern (2002)
[3] http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22707151/0
[4] Fellowes et al. 2002
[5] http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/kp/watching.html
[6] Stage 2 Public Engagement Digest. Available at: https://www.urbanunderground.gov.hk/files/docs/Stage2_Digest.pdf
[7] Approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K1/28. Available at:
https://www2.ozp.tpb.gov.hk/plan/ozp_plan_notes/en/S_K1_28_e.pdf

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Author: HKBWS Chuan    Time: 17/08/2019 23:21

(注：此為香港觀鳥會意見書的中文翻譯，一切以英文版本為準)

香港觀鳥會就「城市地下空間發展：策略性地區先導研究」第二階段公眾參與摘要提出的意見

經過第一階段的公眾參與後，九龍公園在四個策略性城市地區中被選中作優先發展地下空間。九龍公園是市區的綠肺，也是野生動物在城市中的居所。然而，擬議大規模的地下空間發展將為這公眾悠閒設施帶來不良的生態破壞。事實上，該發展概念方案是一個地下購物商場連停車場，佔地下空間六成，而只有約一成半會用作社區設施和公共空間。為了創造商業價值而損害九龍公園的生態、社會及以市容美化的價值是不能接受的。因此，香港觀鳥會（本會）反對九龍公園的地下空間發展方案，理由如下：

九龍公園的生態及社會價值

九龍公園位於九龍半島的中心地帶。公園除了有許多古老的樹木，還有廣闊而相連的樹冠層。由於九龍公園略高於附近的街道，在喧囂的城市中仍能營造公園的寧靜氣氛。從生態角度來看，九龍公園如市區的綠肺，更是野生動物的城市避難所。

根據2018年的報告，全港有二十一個鷺鳥林，而九龍公園的鷺鳥林是第七大的繁殖群落，共有48個鳥巢[1]。這群落的夜鷺（Nycticorax nycticorax）鳥巢數量更佔了全港夜鷺鳥巢總數的26%。這是香港一個重要的鷺鳥林，並應被視為「生態上重要的棲息地」。

2018年，夜鷺（Nycticorax nycticorax）是唯一在九龍公園築巢和繁殖的鳥類。在築巢或棲息地的夜鷺因為其地區的限制而被視為屬「本地關注」的物種[2]，具有保護價值的鳥類。而鷺鳥林卻正正位於地下空間發展的旁邊，我們不應忽視發展對牠們的潛在影響。

此外，九龍公園亦為留鳥和候鳥提供合適的棲息地。本會曾在九龍公園記錄過不少具保育價值的候鳥，包括全球近危的紫綬帶[3]、屬「潛在地區關注」的棕尾褐鶲（Muscicapa ferruginea）[4]和屬「本地關注」的橙頭地鶇（Geokichla citrina）[2]。公園裡更曾有全國罕見和受保護的鳳頭鷹（Accipiter trivirgatus）的繁殖記錄。其他依賴林地的候鳥如黃眉姬鶲（Ficedula narcissina）、鴝姬鶲（Ficedula mugimaki）、灰紋鶲（Muscicapa griseisticta）和白腹姬鶲（Cyanoptila cyanomelana）也有記錄。因此，九龍公園的樹木是鳥類重要的覓食及棲息地。

九龍公園因位於市區中心及擁有多樣化的鳥類物種，而成為一個很受歡迎的觀鳥地點。本會的紅耳鵯俱樂部會每逢週五早上在公園內舉行觀鳥活動，參加者可以與經驗豐富的成員一起觀鳥[5]。九龍公園也是我們的初級觀鳥課程中四個實地考察地點之一。我們在2016和2017年亦在九龍公園廣場舉辦了麻雀嘉年華。九龍公園是一個非常適合向公眾推廣城市生態的地方，並讓大眾在公園內體驗觀鳥的樂趣。

擬定的發展規模將導致棲息地的損失

在公眾參與的第一階段和第二階段中，項目倡議人一再強調古樹名木和樹木生長茂盛的地方將會被排除在開發區一定的緩衝距離之外。由於公園內樹木的根系很有可能生長得既廣又深，項目倡議人必需在規劃階段之前清楚了解其根系。然而，兩份諮詢文件均未能提供在九龍公園的古樹名木的根系調查資料，亦未能顯示擬定的工程面積能有效保護古樹名木。

除了關注古樹名木的安危，我們認為公園內所有樹木對鳥類而言都十分重要，亦應得到充分的保護。所有地面上和地下的工程都不應該損害到樹冠層和樹木的根系。

可是，根據《城市地下空間發展：策略性地區先導研究–第二階段公眾參與摘要》（《諮詢文件》），工程將採用地表挖掘以建造地下空間（上圖）。從2019年1月的衛星圖片可見，挖掘面積約33,250平方米，佔九龍公園面積的25%，而大部分的土地目前被大樹覆蓋（上圖）。在2019年6月5日舉行的焦點小組會議上，顧問團體亦提到將有300棵樹會因擬議的工程中受影響。本會擔心工程將直接或間接地破壞樹根系統，並對這些樹木的健康和生存造成損害，進而干擾鳥類的棲息和覓食地。

以「由上而下」的建築方法作為減低影響的措施具有誤導性

根據諮詢文件，「由上而下」的建築技術比起傳統「由下而上」的方法，聲稱可「減低對九龍公園的影響」。項目倡議人強調，目前的建議可以令「地面的復修工程提早展開並恢復部分公園活動，而同時繼續在地底進行所需的挖掘工程，因此，『由上而下』的方式可以減少工程對公園的影響。 」[6]

然而，如上一節所述，「由上而下」的施工方法牽涉大面積的地表挖掘，過程中將會涉及大範圍的植被和樹木移除，這將嚴重損害公園的生態。即使對一些受影響的樹木進行移植，樹木的健康狀況也會在過程中嚴重受損，並無法保證所有樹木在移植後都能健康存活。我們認為原址保育應該被視為首要選項，在別無他法下才可考慮以移植作為緩解措施。

此外，文件第23頁的四幅圖顯示了以「由上而下」方法施工的程序，但是當中只說明了由「草地」變成長滿樹木的過程，給公眾一種錯覺，以為擬議項目將在九龍公園種植更多樹木以提升美感。這是十分誤導公眾的，因為圖中未有顯示現時九龍公園樹木繁茂的狀況，而在第一幅圖中亦隱藏了將公園變成「草地」時所需的工序（如樹木移除/移植、工地平整和架設圍板）。（上圖）

在沒有提及該「技術」將導致棲息地損失的前提下，如此簡單地將「由上而下」與「由下而上」兩種方法進行比較，然後聲稱前者可以減低影響是極之誤導。所謂「由上而下」的施工方法事實上是大規模的地表挖掘工作，對公園的生態及其舒適的環境都會造成嚴重破壞。

對雀鳥的潛在不良影響

施工工地距離鷺鳥林僅25米。 鑑於繁殖中的鷺鳥易受人類活動的干擾，我們擔心地下空間的建設會大大增加燈光、人類活動和噪音對鷺鳥林的干擾，進一步惡化棲息地的環境，並可能減低鳥類繁殖的成功率。而繁殖鷺鳥在最壞情況下更可能會遷離該地點，為鷺鳥群落的存活造成負面影響。 但是，項目倡議人並沒有提出措施以避免對繁殖鷺鳥構成的潛在不良影響。

此外，我們擔心九龍公園內新增地下空間的出入口會改變遊客的流量，破壞公園內的寧靜氣氛和增加對雀鳥及其棲息地的干擾。地下空間發展項目的建造和營運過程都有可能改變公園內雀鳥物種的組成，並大大降低鳥類棲息地和覓食地的質素。

擬議的地下空間有違「休憩用地」的規劃意向

跟據尖沙咀分區計劃大綱核准圖編號S/K1/28 [7] ，擬議的發展項目位於「休憩用地」，其規劃意向「主要是提供戶外公共空間作各種動態及／或靜態康樂用途，以配合當地居民和其他市民的需要」。 再者，在說明書中亦提到「九龍公園佔地甚廣，是本港一塊重要的公眾休憩用地」。

在「休憩用地」的規劃下，九龍公園被視為以提供公共空間為主。然而，擬議的地下發展項目僅提供約15.6%的地下空間作社區設施和公共空間，而60%則用於商業用途，包括零售/餐飲設施以及泊車設施。

如此則重商業的發展不僅會因其大規模挖掘工程而破壞這片具高生態和社會價值的市區「重要公眾休憩用地」，並且違反為居民和公眾提供公共空間的規劃意向。

[1] Anon, 2018. Summer 2018 Report: Egretry Counts in Hong Kong with particular reference to the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site. Report by The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
[2] Fellowes et al.: Fauna of Conservation Concern (2002)
[3] http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22707151/0
[4] Fellowes et al. 2002
[5] http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/kp/watching.html
[6] Stage 2 Public Engagement Digest. Available at: https://www.urbanunderground.gov.hk/files/docs/Stage2_Digest.pdf
[7] Approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K1/28. Available at:
https://www2.ozp.tpb.gov.hk/plan/ozp_plan_notes/en/S_K1_28_e.pdf
Author: ajohn    Time: 21/08/2019 00:00

Thank you for bringing attention to this proposal, Chuan. I had somehow missed that this was currently under consideration.

This seems like a terrible project to me. The removal of open space from an urban park is a very bad idea, especially somewhere as intensely urbanised as Hong Kong. Even if the park is eventually reopened after works have been completed, the temporary and fragmentation of habitat could have a serious long-term impact. It is likely that the breeding night herons would leave and much of the wooded area of the park would be lost.

The main purpose of this project appears to be to increase retail and restaurant facilities in Kowloon - I am not sure that there is much demand for this among HK people. HK residents would suffer the disruption of losing the park, with very little actual gain in the longer term. I feel that this is another of the sort of costly infrastructure projects that the HK government tends to promote despite public opposition, similar to the HZMB bridge, the incinerator at Shek Kwu Chau or the East Lantau metropolis.

I hope that HKBWS members will look into the project proposal carefully, and will consider sending comments before the deadline tomorrow.
Author: John Holmes    Time: 21/08/2019 11:10     Subject: Kowloon Park Hole-in-the-ground Project

I've done my submission, which includes

“Q1: - Leave the Park alone - this scheme is a waste of time and money

Q2: - …..there are enough shops and car parks in TST already.

Q4: - Don't  do it.

Q6: - Another expensive, inconvenient and pointless scheme driven by vested interests in the engineering, tourism and retail sectors”

[ Last edited by John Holmes at 23/08/2019 08:54 ]
Author: HKBWS Chuan    Time: 22/08/2019 12:00

Thanks a lot John Allcock and John Holmes!



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