kmike

There is a public consultation on Saturday at Cheung On Tak Lecture Theatre (TU201) at Hong Kong Poly U. at 2:30 PM.

HKBWS strongly opposes the proposed development of the Loop for the following reasons:

1. The Loop is an integral part of the Deep Bay Wetlands.

It was formerly a fishpond area until our Government and the Shenzhen Government agreed to fill the ponds with toxic mud from the Shenzhen River. Even despite this abuse it retains some ecological value and the project proponent's  ecological consultant has stated in public that it could easily be restored as a wetland.

Expanding urban development into a wetland area is inconsistent with Hong Kong's planning theory and practice, but this is what the Government (PlanD and CEDD) is proposing.

Hong Kong's rural borderlands are already being sacrificed to SHenzhen's urban sprawl - the new border crossing  at Heung Yuen Wai is intended to ease traffic congestion in Eastern Shenzhen. The plan for the Loop is another attempt to expand the sprawl at the expense of Hong Kong's countryside and biodiversity.

2. There is no justification for creating a new university/research campus on this wetland
There is nothing about the site which makes it uniquely suitable for education or any other form of urban development. This is not consistent with the principles of planning in Hong Kong.

Nor is there any justification for locating a development for 50,000 people or more on an area which serves an an important buffer zone between the heavily developed Futian/Huang Gang district of Shenzhen and the ecologically significant Deep Bay Wetlands.

3. Proposed plot ratio is three times higher than any other Deep Bay site.

Planning Department has proposed a plot ratio of 1.37. This is three times higher than the plot ratio for any other site in the Deep Bay area. Again no reason has been given as to why this site should qualify for such extraordinary treatment, and  there is no possible justification for making a proposal that is so incompatible with the character of the site and surrounding area.

4. Fragmentation of recognized wetland site

A second access road to the site will cut through a part of the Deep Bay wetland area that has been identified in the Nature conservation policy as one of the sites of highest ecological value in Hong Kong. It is incredible that the Government dares to propose to inflict direct ecological damage on a site it has recognized itself - especially as a part of a project that breaks all planning norms and has no valid justification.

5. Permanent loss of flood control capacity

We know from HK Observatory that HK is already experiencing sea level rise which will increase the likelihood of flooding. The Loop is on a flood plain (in other words a plain that floods!). If the Loop is covered in concrete it will not be able to help absorb heavy rainfall or overspill from the Shenzhen River as it does now. Any development of this site will reduce the flood control capacity of the site - and this cannot be mitigated. In plain language the risk of flooding to Shenzhen will increase if this development goes ahead.

Summary - please raise your objection!
HKBWS advises all members to challenge on the basis of these fundamental issues rather than to join in any discussion of the lesser details of how such a development should be made better. The proposal is wrong in principle, is disrespectful of the Government's own conservation objectives, defies good planning principles, and will increase flood risk.

Cheers
Mike Kilburn
Vice Chairman