Donald Tsang bloody big bridges and plastic bag levy
11 October 2007 - 10:31am
Yesterday, HK Chief Executive (not prime minister, not president) gave policy address.
Not a surprise: pushing mega projects with concrete, and some waffle on the environment.
From AFP:
Quote:
Hong Kong leader says growth comes first
The planned new rail line to southern HK Island could be good if reduces road traffic.
But some of the bridges? - esp HK-Macau-Zhuhai, which surely will be (if everyone involved can actually agree to build it) another source of pollution from container trucks etc, as well as spurring more pollution creating developments in Zhuhai, whilst maybe draining our coffers.
Maybe Donald in his devotion to development - which to him, means concrete, concrete, concrete - has omitted to read guff like Jake van der Kamp's column in SCM Post: where vdK has long suggested the idea of infrastructure in itself as means of boosting economy is wrong-headed, and suggested extreme form, building tunnel to Antarctica.
Heard some discussion of env issues arising from Donald's plans on radio this morn: a couple of guys from fancy sounding councils spoke little but hot air and jargon. Woeful woolly-headedness like this isn't great; maybe helped lead to some of our existing Big Silly Projects, such as Cyberport, the HK-Shenzhen (Shekou) bridge, and the bridge being built from Stonecutters to Tsing Yi. Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang insisted on Wednesday that economic development would remain the city's top priority in an annual address that skirted the thorny issues of pollution and democracy. In his first policy address since winning re-election in March, the chief executive said improving the city's environment or maintaining its heritage -- another campaign popular among activists -- had to take a back seat. "I will insist on promoting economic development as our primary goal," he told legislators. ... He promised to reduce energy intensity -- energy consumed per unit of gross domestic product -- by 25 percent by 2030 and submit to a government carbon audit to "set an example" to the business community. A levy on plastic bags will also be introduced alongside measures to reduce sulphur emissions. ... A string of major infrastructure projects would form the backbone to future growth, including a road bridge between Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese city of Zhuhai, Tsang said. The ten projects, which also include new underground and train lines, are expected to boost the economy by more than 100 billion Hong Kong dollars a year when finished and create 250,000 jobs.
20 May 2011 - 3:02pm
#2
Donad Tsang shows disrespect for law and scorn for environment
After a judicial review has set back the Hong Kong - Macau - Zhuhai Bridge project, Donald Tsang has responded in a manner showing disrespect for the rule of law, scorn for the environment, and lack of concern for public health.
From HK Standard:
Quote:
"I am aware of some opinions from the community that some political party politicians are using legal action and other means to disrupt major infrastructure just before kickoff in the name of environmental protection and conservation," Tsang said.
...
He said later it is difficult to quantify losses arising from the delay in construction of the bridge but the government could lose as much as HK$2 billion a year in revenue.
He also said assessment reports for another 80 projects may have to be redone, causing further delays.
Party lines drawn as Tsang hits out over bridge blow
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There wasn't much fuss when the Stonecutters Bridge was announced, even though it was to be a major project. Not much re justification for the bridge; the only argument I can recall in its supposed favour was that it would cut travel time from Sha Tin to the airport by 15 mins (wow!).
Looks to me a huge waste, built chiefly to please construction industry that's been clamouring for things to do (maybe the'd be up for the tunnel to Antarctica Jake van der Kamp sometimes moots in the SCM Post: no use save for the supposed economic boost thro simply building the thing). From Highways Dept website:
Here's a recent shot of southern end of the partly built bridge, rather obscured by smog - which the bridge traffic will contribute to, esp as it's for road not rail.