|
 (reprinted from Positive News Hong Kong)
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
by Bobsy
Why can’t Hong Kong have a downtown area? An area in which people can enjoy themselves and relax whilst absorbing the unique vibes of this modern cosmopolitan city.
Unlike most great cities, Hong Kong lacks a city centre area free of vehicular traffic, but with a rich street culture, aesthetic street furniture, and foliage that blends with the surroundings. Such a vision is not only feasible but necessary for the collective health of this city.
It adds credence to the current plethora of design proposals being put forward to save or renovate what is left of Hong Kong’s central cultural urban treasures. There are some great proposals dealing with the street markets, the Old Central Police Station, pedestrianizing Soho, the emerging Victoria Harbour waterfront and the Old Police Married Quarters.
Why not unite all these proposed plans into one greater plan that links them all together?
Picture the beauty of a central downtown zone. At the Central Police Station Hong Kong could finally have an open piazza with al fresco café culture seating around a central fountain under the shade of those great trees, surrounded by impressive colonial buildings in a central car-free zone.
Imagine a plan that links the old police station with Soho via a pedestrian bridge that crosses old Bailey Street into a pedestrianized Staunton Street. The Soho loop which comprises Staunton and Elgin streets would be rich in cafés, art galleries, individual boutiques and restaurants with cobbled streets and shady trees . The other side of Soho would be linked to the old Police Married Quarters with a predestrian bridge over Aberdeen Street and into Bridges Street and all the small quaint neighbouring streets and beautiful stairways, linked together with an aesthetic uniformity and limited to traffic. From Soho, green pedestrianized corridors could be created along existing streets that run down to the street markets, and further down to link up with the Harbour waterfront.
Voila! Hong Kong could finally, inexpensively and with minimum disruption, have a beautiful, cultural and green space for her people.
How much would a city give to gain such an asset, located in the heart of it’s centre? Billions, trillions? Such a plan would generate huge revenue for the local tourist industry and local economy and may well help Hong Kong become the world city it so aspires to be.
Just think about it. Why is Soho thriving? Soho has been growing steadily and organically in recent years. It has become a very popular area with tourists and locals alike; it is an area rich in individuality and creativity and a classic example of where the government gave an inch, and the people then gave a mile. Why are so many movies and videos filmed in the Soho and Sheung Wan areas? Why is this area so attractive to Artists and entrepreneurs? Why is it so attractive to tourists?
In these questions lies the answer and it is these cultural and aesthetic reasons that the Government ought to recognize and work with, because the foundation is already there. It is for real, it is solid and is growing organically and naturally, and it follows just as day follows night (as they always have) that such areas will mature, thrive and grow.
The time to act is now because it is an idea whose time has come. Yes, there will be a few objecting voices, as there always have to be, but overall this is a plan that can only benefit one and all.
Calling all concerned parties and individuals to rally around a Holistic Plan for Central, so as to potentially start a successful colourful campaign fuelled by people power and to manifest this Green Heart for Central and create a better future for one and all.
Bobsy is the owner of Life café in Soho and a Director of Positive News.
Please send your views, comments and how you can help support to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
designinghongkong.com
 |
15 - 28 September
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form