Thank you, President. I rise to speak in support of the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill 2024 (“the Bill”). The Bill seeks to enhance the regulatory regime for large-scale reclamations and introduce a streamlined mechanism for minor and non-permanent reclamations for the enhancement of the Victoria Harbour, with a view to improving the harbourfront accessibility and enhancing the harbourfront areas for public enjoyment.
The existing Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (“PHO”) provides that the Victoria Harbour is subject to a presumption against reclamation (“the Presumption”), but there is no specific mechanism for determining whether there is an overriding public need for an individual project. The blanket application of the Presumption to all harbour reclamations is not conducive to the implementation of reclamations seeking to enhance the Victoria Harbour, and has resulted in a prolonged disruption of many minor enhancements projects with minimal impact on the harbour, e.g., promenades, cycle tracks, breakwaters, and the impact on the quality of life of the general public.
The Bill proposes that minor or non-permanent reclamations for harbour-front enhancement in the Victoria Harbour may be exempted from the Presumption upon approval by the Financial Secretary through the streamlined procedures, subject to certain specified criteria. For any minor reclamation for the enhancement of the Victoria Harbour, as long as it belongs to the harbour reclamation designated in the Schedule to the Bill and the specified area of the structure, facility or device to be built does not exceed 0.8 ha, it can be exempted from the Presumption. Non-permanent reclamations are also exempted from the Presumption if the area of land occupied by the works does not exceed 3 ha at any one time and the anticipated duration does not exceed seven years. Under the amended legislation, minor works are harbourfront enhancement projects which can be implemented under the streamlined procedures in the future. This will expedite the implementation of projects benefiting the public and address the urgent needs of the community for harbourfront enhancement.
In response to some people’s concern that the Government seeks to implement large-scale reclamations through the legislative amendments, the Government has clarified earlier that it has no plan to carry out large-scale reclamations in the Victoria Harbour for housing, commercial or industrial development, so there is no need to worry about that. The night view of the Victoria Harbour is internationally renowned and is an essential natural asset of Hong Kong that attracts travellers from all over the world. As it is the community’s consensus to protect the Victoria Harbour, regulating reclamations in the Victoria Harbour through the current legislative amendment exercise will help to safeguard the core values of the Victoria Harbour by setting out a clear mechanism. The exercise represents an important step in striking a balance between protecting the Victoria Harbour and promoting sustainable urban development in Hong Kong. By removing restrictions on essential works, we will progressively improve the harbourfront facilities of the Victoria Harbour and enhance its harbour functions so that more people and tourists can enjoy its beautiful harbourfront.
Finally, I would like to express my support for the Development Bureau’s courage in proposing amendments to PHO, which is outdated or has been proven over time to be out of step with our practical needs, so that Hong Kong’s development can keep pace with the times.
With these remarks, President, I support the Bill.