Victoria Harbour as a Harbour: The importance of Integrated Land-Water Planning

Victoria Harbour as a Harbour: The importance of Integrated Land-Water Planning (Marine Study) - Two Stakeholder Workshops
1^st Workshop on 24 November 2010 & 2^nd Workshop on 22 March 2011

The Marine Study builds on the HBF’s Integrated Harbour Vision and Delivery Plan and provides an in-depth evaluation of the integrated system of land and water uses necessary both to sustain Victoria Harbour as an economic asset and as a vital contribution to the quality of life in Hong Kong.

An important component of the Marine Study is to engage with a wide group of industry stakeholders and obtain their insights and viewpoints on the future of marine activities in Victoria harbour. The participants for the workshops included stakeholders engaged in a broad range of marine activities as well as stakeholders in water-dependent and water-related land uses and waterfront enhancement.

The first workshop was held on 24 November 2010 with the purpose of bringing together key stakeholders to collectively prioritise potential projects and programmes. The themes for the focus group discussions included “Working Harbour”, “Connected Harbour” and “Harbour Places”. At the end of the workshop, each participant voted for five of the priorities suggested by the focus groups. The following is a summary of the feedback received from the first workshop.

The top five imperatives chosen were:

1.	Development of Strategic Plan for the Harbour
2.	Increased Accessibility
3.	More Flexible Water Transport
4.	Creation of a Harbour Authority
5.	Water Zoning

The most frequently cited suggestions for specific improvements were:

1.	Improve public access to the water
2.	Promote events use of harbour/ water-based events space and facilities
3.	Develop zoning of water to balance working and leisure use
4.	Promote hopper ferry / water taxi services
5.	Promote branding and cultural heritage of harbour
6.	Promote leisure/water sports use of harbour

The following suggestions of specific marine development projects for further study emerged from discussion (in no particular order):

	Mixed-mode transport connections with new or enhanced piers including West Kowloon, Convention Centre/Wanchai, Hung Hom Station, Kowloon Bay/Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Quarry Bay, Kwun Tong, Yau Tong
	Events Basin/Venue for Events "Village" at Wanchai waterfront
	Additional pleasure boat moorings/marina and/or boat club within the Harbour
	Competition Paddlesports (including Dragon Boating) centre
	Reprovisioned Cargo Working areas
	Watersports centre
	Maritime heritage centre/fishermen's wharf

The second workshop was held on 22 March 2011 with the purpose of clarifying objectives and testing assumptions that will form part of the outline business case to be suggested to Government for further appraisal and action. The participants for this workshop included stakeholders from government departments, the business community, NGOs and professionals interested in an integrated action plan for the enhancement of Victoria Harbour.

The second workshop presentation is available here to view or download.