Community Issues

Illuminating Controversy

Previous story: More Talk Needed

The saga regarding street lights in SK Country Park continues.  In answer to a question by Selina Chow in LegCo on 2 May 2007, the Secretary of Environment, Transport and Works, Sarah Liao, stated that the Highways Department (HyD) had received requests from the local community for street lights “at selected locations….to enhance traffic and personal safety”. Evidently “after assessing their requests” the department concluded that “overall road safety would only be marginally improved if street lights were installed at selected locations…it therefore proposed installing street lights for the entire middle section” and the proposal was approved in 2005. 

 

According to this statement – village representatives did not request lights in the middle (uninhabited) sections of the road - it was the department's decision. And it is these lights, not those installed at villages that are under residents’ scrutiny. However, Mr. Ng Kwok Kwan, Acting Chief Lighting Engineer of the HyD, recently assured Explore that the Sai Kung North Rural Committee requested lights all along Pak Tam Road on behalf of village representatives in the area.

 

It has been verified that the endorsement of the project by Kadoorie Farms, mentioned by the HyD in meetings, was quite the opposite.  The one fatal accident, which was cited as occurring in the evening, had in fact happened before sunset. Statistics provided to Explore by Police Senior Inspector, Mike Sharp, show very low crime rates along Pak Tam Road (only one crime has been noted in the section with no lighting in the last six years).

 

The Country and Marine Parks Authority did approve the project, as stated by the HyD – a decision that appears to be contrary to its conservation mandate and to the statement that Sarah Liao made in May to the FCC (“We are committed to protecting our natural environment"). Dr. Wong Fook Yee, Director, told Explore that it was a routine highways project that they determined would have little or no effect on the environment.  

 

Residents feel that the HyD continues to justify a project that was started without sufficient research and understanding of the rural setting of Pak Tam Road. Mr. Ng explained that his department has done a thorough literature review on rural roads and they believe that the request of the SK North VRs is warranted. 

 

The Lighting Division has now come up with a new proposal “to address the residents’ concerns”. Following new international standards for rural lighting – they would lower the height of the lights, reduce upward glare and downgrade the wattage even further from 150 to 100 throughout the park. This, Mr. Ng says, will reduce energy consumption to 16-30% less that what it is now with the current lights.  

 

*Perhaps worn down by the controversy, the former Chief Engineer/Lighting (Peter Chan) has retired. Your comments could be sent to Mr. Ng, the Chairman of the Country & Marine Parks Board and/or the Director of Audit with copies to the two District Officers.