Environmental Petition

Say No to Underground Space Development in Kowloon Park, Victoria Park and Southorn Playground

1055 Signatures Obtained, This Campaign Ended on December 31, 2017
1055
Signatures
obtained
Target met!
1055

Target: 1000

Description

The government is conducting a public consultation on developing multi-storey underground spaces below Hong Kong’s urban parks—Victoria Park, Kowloon Park and Southorn Playground in Wanchai.

This project will entail extensive, open-cut excavation of our parks, closing large sections for years—all for more commercial development at the expense of public open space.

We seek your help in protecting our urban parks from commercial development activity whether underneath, at grade or above our parks.

Petition Letter

To Secretary for Development, Director of Civil Engineering and Development,

I oppose the development of underground spaces below Hong Kong’s urban parks – Kowloon Park, Victoria Park and Southorn Playground.

The proposed underground developments opportunistically target existing, government-owned public space and do not actually solve any of the problems mentioned in the study – they provide links where links are already available, and community facilities where such facilities are already available.

This programme will entail extensive excavation under our parks, closing down large sections for years, and removing existing trees and lawns.

These parks are gathering places for many people of all ages and all backgrounds. Closing these open spaces for years will leave thousands of citizens with no place to exercise or relax.

These underground spaces will require substantial above-ground ventilation shafts, emergency access entrances and other structures which will take away even more at-grade park space.

There are many empty shops in the target areas. We do not need more commercial development; we need open public space for recreational activity.

Developing underground space in already densely-developed urban areas will only add to the congestion and population concentration, which is against the territorial development objectives of spreading out population and providing employment opportunities in the New Territories.

Moreover, the cost of developing underground space under existing structures is significant. This is not a good use of taxpayer funds.

Petition Creator

This petition was started by Save our urban parks 守護市區公園 on January 27, 2017, with an end date of December 31, 2017.

SAVE OUR URBAN PARKS