Reconstructing the Queen’s Pier at its original location is an “unrealistic” option, Secretary for Development Paul Chan Mo-po has said. But he also said that the placement of the pier has yet to be confirmed.
The three plans proposed by the Development Bureau all suggested that the pier – dismantled in 2007 – could be restored between Piers 9 and 10 in Central, about 750 metres from the original location next to the City Hall.
After a consultation concluded last month, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) received 1,741 opinion submissions supporting the three options which will place the pier between Piers 9 and 10. It also received 1,058 opinion submissions supporting the plan to place it back at the original location.
Speaking at the Legislative Council, Chan said that the government is analysing public opinion and has not made any conclusions yet. He added that the current relocation choices have been widely discussed in consultations completed by the Planning Department in 2007 and 2009.
“I understand that some people may not agree with the suggested location, but it may not be constructive to repeat the consultations and the studies,” he said.
Chan said that, according to the CEDD, it was unrealistic to reconstruct the pier at its original location as doing so may conflict with current construction projects or those in planning. The re-alignment of Lung Wo Road and MTR extensions could be affected, incurring huge costs.
Civic Party lawmaker Kenneth Chan Ka-lok said he welcomed the fact that the government said a conclusion had yet to be made.
He added that civil groups have shown strong enthusiasm in urging for the reconstruction at the original spot. The government should communicate with them, he said.
