Wind Farm in Sai Kung

A UK renewable energy company is planning to build Hong Kong's first commercial wind farm off Sai Kung.

Reported today in SCMP, the company, Wind Prospect (Hong Kong), plans to build 50 massive wind turbines on the Ninepin islands, Kwo Chau Kwan To. The turbines can produce 4MW electricity each and will serve Tseung Kwan O area.

The company hopes to cooperate with CLP in the project. CLP has confirmed that Wind Prospect has approached them for possible cooperation.

Source: Dennis Tsang, "UK firms plans wind farm off Sai Kung," SCMP 20 February 2006.

CLP's Valentine Day's Present

This afternoon, "Greenpeace presents CLP with withering flowers as products of air pollution" for Valentine Day. The protest is to call on CLP to end its reliance of coal power generation.

Greenpeace members protested outside CLP's head office in Kowloon. The organisation blames CLP for continuing use of coal to generate electricity and deteriorating the health of Hong Kong people. They hope CLP will not further delay plans for implementing renewable energy.

See news here.

Source: Greenpeace 2006, 'Greenpeace presents CLP with withering flowers as products of air pollution' Greenpeace 14 February.

Park 'n' Shop outsourcing fresh food counters - layoff workers

One of the two largest supermarket chain, Park n Shop, laid off more workers yesterday as part of an outsourcing scheme for its fresh-food counter.

Some laid off workers may be transferred to other parts of the supermarket or be hired by the suppliers. However, trade union worries that workers who will be hire by the suppliers will face less wages, longer working hours, less job security and less benefits.

See here for more.

Stakeholders halt property development

Last week, the Swire Properties was refused permission by a Town Planning Board to increase the plot ratio of two adjoining sites at western Mid-levels to at least nine times from 7.57 times now.

The company wants to build a $500 million, 58-storey residential development by combining two sites, one on Seymour Road and the other on Castle Steps.

About 3,000 people in the neighbourhood objected to the plan saying that the project will lead to traffic congestion, air pollution and blocked views. A representative of the neighbour hood (Seymour redevelopment concern group) said the developer is "too greedy" to care about residents' interests.

In response, Swire Properties expressed disappointment but the company will maintain an open communication channel with the neighbourhood.

Observers think that greater transparency and more channels for public comment will only jeopardise the project. A Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Professor said, "Tolerance of residents towards new developments gets smaller as the density of urban development gets higher. While developers will find it more difficult to satisfy people's demands, rising activism could slow the city's urban development."

Although there is no formal channel for residents to voice their opposition to plans submitted to the Buildings Department, industry observers said residents' opinions should not be ignored.

Other development projects that have been refused by Town Planning Board include, Hopewell Holding's Mega Tower hotel project in Wan Chai and Sun Hung Kai Properties to transform a gas and oil products transit depot in Ap Lei Chau into a 400 unit high-rise residential project.

Source: Foster Wong and Yvonne Liu, "People power delays projects: Greater transparency and more channels to complain mean developers ignore neighbours' objections at their peril", South China Morning Post 1 February 2006.