Hiram's Grief
Stage 1 of the Hiram's Highway Project Hits Debate
Friends of Sai Kung held a spirited meeting 1 April 2008 with representatives of the Highways Department and their consultants (Meinhardt and MVA Hong Kong Ltd.) on the second phase of Stage One of the Hiram's Highway Improvement Project.
Stage 1 of the highway project is in two phases – the first of which involves completing the dualling of the highway from Clearwater Bay Road down to Ho Chung (which was partially finished by 2001).
The second phase involves dualling the road from Nam Pin Wai/Ho Chung) roundabout to Pak Wai, realigning a bridge, adding new roads, roundabouts, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, footbridges and the ubiquitous noise barriers.
Before designing the project, the SK District Council and the Rural Committee were consulted, as well as residents of Marine Cove. It appears that the twinning of the road was, to the Highways Department, a fait accompli - that no other options were considered. They say now, however, that since the public expressed their opposition to the twinning of the road past this point to SK Town in the Stage 2 public consultation in March, they will now take public opinion into consideration on Stage 1.
More details on the meeting can be found on the Friends of Sai Kung website but the overwhelming sentiment was that the twinning of the road in Stage 1 would simply move the bottleneck up the road to Pak Wai and if the department is seriously considering listening to public opinion regarding Stage 2 – it makes no sense to proceed with the twinning as currently designed.
Express your views to the department, to the consultants and to your relevant District Officer.
Wai Chi Sing, JP Directory of Highways
CHEUNG Hing Wan, JP Dep Dir of Highways
Bosco C.W. Wong Executive Engineer – Infrastructure Meinhardt China |
Sai Kung CHAN Ping Fai, Peter, JP District Officer, Sai Kung
Tai Po (for Sai Kung North) POON Tai Ping, Eddie, JP District Officer, Tai Po |