The University of Hong Kong (HKU) faced opposition from residents for its plan to build an innovation center at a site between Pok Fu Lam Road and Victoria Road, citing concerns about traffic issues and landscape degradation.
The Town Planning Board received around 4,000 public representations for the university’s application to change the land use of the 510,000 square feet site, initially a Green Belt and residential-related zone, in order to develop the Global Innovation Centre (GIC).
The major concerns included the impact on the slope, as well as the traffic flow on Victoria Road. Some were also worried about noise pollution affecting the nearby Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired.
The Conservancy Association also opposed the project, noting that cutting over 2,000 trees might affect the safety and stability of the slope as the proposed site is the only green belt in the district.
However, the Cyberport and the Hong Kong Productivity Council support the construction of GIC as the innovation center will be close to the HKU campuses and several academic and research hubs, creating synergy to the intellectual and innovative ecosystem development and enabling support for the collaborations with industries and talent pool.
Executive Council convener Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, while acknowledging the potential of the GIC, has voiced her concerns about the proposed location. The lawmaker noted she would appeal to the university for an alternative site for the innovation center.
HKU said it will strive to minimize the project’s impact on nearby environments and noted that the development of the GIC is anticipated to commence in phases from 2027.
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 