Waterfront Disgrace
No change in sight
In late April the Sai Kung Association (SKA) sent the picture on the right to District Council members, the Tourism Board, and Food & Environmental Hygeine Department with a strong appeal to initiate dialogue with the restaurant owners and undertake a responsive course of action.
"All of the seafood restaurants, as part of their 'Al Fresco' expansion have moved all their kitchen, cleaning and waste disposal activities to the waterfront promenade, creating an incredibly ugly and unhygienic environment. Filtration systems and pipes are now part of the waterfront, Sai Kung's most popular area", the SKA spokesman stated.
At the 2 May meeting of the Economic Development Committee of the District Council the matter was brought up once more by Mason Hung, the representative from the Hong Kong Tourist Board and Council members promised to take immediate action.
A letter to the Association from Ms. Clara Chong of the HKTB on 18 May stated that the "District Office confirmed with us this Monday that a joint operation by related Government Departments, inclusive of District Office, Lands Department, Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and Police will be taken within this month to rectify the situation.
The above left picture, taken on Thursday 25 May 2006, shows little progress in this regard.
If you care about the sustainability of Sai Kung waterfront – write to:
- Mr. George Ng, Chairman of the District Council, and
- Mr. Peter Chan, the Sai Kung District Officer.
Both are at 2/F Sai Kung Government Offices Building, 34 Chan Man Street.