Citizens Hearing: Planning Places for People
An Urban Planning Debate organized by
The Planning Alliance, Community Alliance for Urban Planning &
The Professional Commons
Date: 21 September 2008 (Sun)
Time: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Venue: Room 202, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building,
15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Registration: (Tel) 8200-6332 or (Email) [email protected]
Motion
This hearing shares public concerns over planning failures throughout Hong Kong and calls for the promised reforms of the Town Planning Ordinance to be amended as soon as possible. We also call for a reduction in overall development density so as to improve our quality of life
Programme
15:00 Registration
15:15 Introduction Nicholas Brooke & Katty Law
15:25 Explanation of the proceedings W.K. Chan, the moderator
15:30 Planning failures Community groups
16:30 Break
16:45 Planning failures Community groups
17:15 What can be done about it? Professionals/Govt. Officials/LegCo Members
17:30 Questions & Answers Public
17:45 Summing Up & Motion W.K Chan & Katty Law
Join this exciting event…
The community is invited to explain planning failures in their district. Government officials and LegCo members will be invited to respond, professionals will offer advice and the public can ask questions and make comments. This will be a real citizens’ hearing.
Background
What is going wrong with urban planning in Hong Kong? Issues concerning public open space, land exchange, very high development densities, destruction of heritage buildings, urban renewal for profit – not people, ultra large site, troubled new towns, an unattractive harbourfront, ongoing harbour reclamation, more roads for cars but less space for pedestrians, overcrowded railways, walls of buildings, uncontrolled open storage in NT, haphazard village development……..
We could have the most beautiful city in the world given our harbour, mountains, reservoirs, biodiversity and heritage shaped by different cultures. What has gone wrong and how we improve it?
Things could have been so different as since the 1970’s people have warned Governments that our urban development was out of control. A comprehensive review in 1991 promised far reaching reforms which could have avoided many of today’s challenges.
Sadly, when the Town Planning (Amendment) Ordinance was introduced in late 2004 it only addressed the “easy” reforms and the difficult ones – like an independent Town Planning Board Chairman, new zoning systems, new development and planning controls – have been forgotten.
The Planning Alliance comprises individuals involved in planning and wants to see planning reform before it is too late. Following research and a seminar with professionals, together with input from the Citizens Hearing, a paper will be prepared for Government’s action.
The Community Alliance for Urban Planning – an alliance of residents concern groups from districts on Hong Kong Island have come together to campaign against bad urban planning. Through common vision, joint efforts and determination their alliance will make Hong Kong a better place to live: Central & Western Concern Group, Kennedy Road Protection Group, Mid Level West Concern Group, Coalition Against the Proposed Development on King Wah Road, Sai Wan Terrace Concern Group.
Professional Commons is a think-tank with membership base. Our areas of work are thematic initiatives, public engagement, city planning, research, building civil society platform structures inclusive. Our current projects include West Kowloon Cultural District Development, Digital City Life, community development and citizens’ capacity-building, urban planning, heritage conservation, multimedia platform, Hong Kong’s economic development initiatives in education, freedom of speech, young-elite training programme, the blueprint of Hong Kong development, political development and so on.
Citizens Hearing: Planning Places for People
A Urban Planning Debate
Sunday 21 September 2008
3 – 6 p.m.
Room 202, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building
15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai
Community Presentations – Briefing Notes
To register as a community speaker, please send an e-mail to: [email protected] or tel: 8200 6332
Focus your presentations:
- What are the planning issues in your community?
- Bring a visual so that people can easily understand it
- Did the planning system help you?
- Is the planning system transparent and easy to understand?
- What are your suggestions for improvement?
Simple rules for presentations:
- Timeslot for each speaker is MAXIMUM 5 (FIVE) minutes.
- Presentations in either Cantonese or English will be welcome.
- Computers, projectors and other audio-visual equipment are available.
- Please notify the organiser in advance of the equipment needed.
Create an exhibition:
- Bring boards with pictures and details of the problems in your district
- Make sure that the display is free standing and is not larger than 2 x 2m
- The organizers have the right to refuse panels as the space is limited
Remember the key objectives of the Citizens Hearing:
- To understand the problem in your district
- To gather views on the need for planning reform
- To recommend how we can improve the structure of town planning in Hong Kong
Note
If you are not able to present at the Citizens Hearing, please send written submissions before 20 September 2008 to email: [email protected]