[Lammarite]

As a close-to-Sai Kung resident, I'm with you Skyhook (they should all piss off up to Tai Po and bother Boris I reckon).
The worst part is that most of the crowds aren't actually going intop Sai Kung and spending their money in the town, they are catching junks, speedboats, sampans and the like to the islands and beaches nearby. The Wellcome and PnS do a roaring trade in cartons of ice tea, water and Pringles but none gets fed into the community. Opening Hiram's Highway to two lanes will decimate the town and the country park beyond.
A ferry from Sai Kung is ridiculous, you would travel 3 times the distance over ground as you would on land.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Lammarite

As a close-to-Sai Kung resident, I'm with you Skyhook (they should all piss off up to Tai Po and bother Boris I reckon).

Well as an Ex sai kunger I have to agree with the sentiments but please leave my beloved Tai Po alone as its my ancestral home and I plan on retiring there one day.

[beachball]

Originally Posted by Lammarite

As a close-to-Sai Kung resident, I'm with you Skyhook (they should all piss off up to Tai Po and bother Boris I reckon).
The worst part is that most of the crowds aren't actually going intop Sai Kung and spending their money in the town, they are catching junks, speedboats, sampans and the like to the islands and beaches nearby. The Wellcome and PnS do a roaring trade in cartons of ice tea, water and Pringles but none gets fed into the community. Opening Hiram's Highway to two lanes will decimate the town and the country park beyond.
A ferry from Sai Kung is ridiculous, you would travel 3 times the distance over ground as you would on land.

Haha, leaving aside the question of whether Sai Kung belongs to Lammarite (and previous residents like Skyhook and Jimbo), the ferry is indeed a ridiculous idea - much longer distance at much slower speed, so it would take over 2 hours. Even when motoring up to Sai Kung at 30+ knots it takes almost an hour. And KK is right, it can be quite bumpy past Fat Tong Mun and before reaching Bluff Island.

[Pekkerhead]

I heard an unsubstantiated rumour a few weeks ago from a local friend. Apparently a large developer had approached the govt to sell some land in Tai Long Wan (the Sai Kung one) so they could build a hotel and lay down some road infrastructure. I understand the Govt said no, but still who can trust the Govt these days?

Did anyone else hear about this?

Oh yeah, and BTW a Sai Kung to Central ferry is a bad idea. Anyone who has travelled by boat from Port Shelter to the harbour knows it's impractical.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

I heard an unsubstantiated rumour a few weeks ago from a local friend. Apparently a large developer had approached the govt to sell some land in Tai Long Wan (the Sai Kung one) so they could build a hotel and lay down some road infrastructure. I understand the Govt said no, but still who can trust the Govt these days?

Did anyone else hear about this?

Theres been talk about this for the past few years, It was talked about when I was living there three years ago. I doubt it would happen to be honest.

[Pekkerhead]

Originally Posted by jimbo

Theres been talk about this for the past few years, It was talked about when I was living there three years ago. I doubt it would happen to be honest.

either it's an old rumour then or someone is very persistent. It would be a real shame if anything did happen.

[squid]

fairy for SK?

[hkjudy]

As far as I know a small developer out here still owns some of the agricultural land at Tai Long Wan (purchased from the indigenous villagers) and has the option on the houses when she gets the approval to build. BUT - an excellent campaign was waged against such development and won (that "round" was over 5 years ago). These things are cyclical - it'll come back when we least expect it.

But recently - a number of other village areas (all the agricultural land) that are surrounded by SK East Country Park have now been purchased by developers and plans are for large housing developments.

The farthest along (and most out of the way) is To Kwa Peng - which currently has no road to it and one of the biggest areas of untouched mangroves. All of the big trees and shrubbery have been ploughed down and surveyed with over 30 "blocks" marked out. They'll have an absolutely stunning view of the bay. The biggest concern here is how on earth they expect people to get there without a road or consideration for parking. Can't imagine people buying or renting houses that big and then taking a 15 minute walk down the hill from Pak Tam Road (or a speed boat from Wong Shek Pier). So....they must have planned a road - but the only way to do it is right through land zoned Country Park (their agric land does not extend up to the main road). Also - they'll probably plough down the mangroves too, before asking permission from the AFCD (other places where they've done this, the excuse was that it was a mosquito breeding area)

I'll be doing a big story on this for the October issue of Explore SK - please send me your comments (PM) on how we can get the government to recognize the value of their Country Parks. I've heard a suggestion that we start a fund for citizens to actually "buy back" the land - great idea but......will it be enough? Any other suggestions? Any models elsewhere in the world that have worked?

Judy at Explore Sai Kung dot com
ps. love the fairy for SK!

[squid]

Originally Posted by hkjudy

I've heard a suggestion that we start a fund for citizens to actually "buy back" the land - great idea but......will it be enough? Any other suggestions? Any models elsewhere in the world that have worked?

Judy at Explore Sai Kung dot com
ps. love the fairy for SK!

That sounds similar to the "Nature Conservancy" approach that I've seen in the US.

There are very stringent permitting procedures in place where I come from, and it is very rare for development to go further than the design stage without any environmental impact statements or reports generated, along with intense public involvement meetings (which are often required by state/county/or city law).

Hong Kong seems to have a robust Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. Do they wield any clout or is it a facade for development to hide behind?

The only active projects for Sai Kung listed are:

• TETRA Radio Base Station at Yuen Ng Fan, Sai Kung
  
• Proposed Extension of Public Golf Course at Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
  
• Drainage Improvements in Sai Kung

Is the bidding process on civil projects transparent?

[Pekkerhead]

Hong Kong seems to have a robust Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance

I get the impression, after reading about the environmental impact assessment done for the man-made beach at Lung Mei in Tai Mei Tuk, that if the Govt really wants to get its way there are shortcuts (i.e. employ someone crap to do the assessment)