HKU, officials push back against Hongkongers’ development site proposal

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and authorities have pushed back against Pok Fu Lam residents’ suggestion to build an innovation hub at an alternative site, saying it would take up more green belt area and overlap partly with a planned mortuary.

HKU on Friday introduced a revised proposal for building its global innovation centre mainly on a residential plot, instead of a green belt area in Pok Fu Lam as originally intended, to the Town Planning Board.

But residents in the area have hit out at the university for dismissing their suggestion to build the centre at a site on Mount Davis, saying no proper consultation was conducted.

Permanent Secretary for Development Doris Ho Pui-ling, who is also the board’s chairwoman, said the 8.6-hectare (21.6-acre) Mount Davis site rested on a green belt area, while some parts were not suitable for development.

“Everyone is trying very hard to avoid the green belt area in Pok Fu Lam as much as possible. This site [Mount Davis] seems to be going slightly against what we have been doing,” she said.

Ho said the site covered areas reserved for the relocation of Victoria Public Mortuary, which has secured construction funding from the legislature.