The Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Revitalisation Plan () is a forfeited development proposal by New World Development Co. Ltd and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department made in 2013. The aim of the plan was to reshape the waterfront by adding in activity hubs consisting of various small-scale commercial, entertainment and recreational areas in Salisbury Garden (), Avenue of Stars as well as the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade ().Town Planning Board. (June 2015). Broad Development Parameters of the Applied Use/ Development in respect of Application No. A/ K1/ 250. The plan was later dismissed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Harbourfront Commission due to huge public controversies in 2016.HKSAR Government. (17 February 2016). LCSD revises Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Revitalisation Plan. Press Release.
Details According to the preliminary proposal submitted by New World Development, three major areas totaling 38,000 squaremeter of public space is highlighted for enhancement in the plan:
Salisbury Garden was planned to act as an art and cultural gateway. The Garden was proposed for two major uses, including developing an open space as a vibrant venue for visual arts, music, performances and other outdoor cultural and leisure programmes. The revitalised area would be acting as an interconnected gateway serving as prime initial destination and civic gathering place and thoroughfare for the entire Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront area.
The Avenue of Stars and East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade would be developed as an "Icon Celebrating Hong Kong's History and Movie Glamour". By extending the Avenue of Stars towards the east, the area encompasses the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. Three main hubs were proposed including: 1) establishing a two-storeyed food and beverage amenity to facilitate visitors' experience in waterfront, 2) creating a display venue to showcase the history of Hong Kong movie industry development, as well as 3) transforming the Hung Hom Bypass flyover into an area which allows cultural and talent performance with an observation deck for tourists' sightseeing.
Timeline Year Month Event2003May 23 New World Development signed an agreement with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to finance the project Avenue of Stars. New World Development has been responsible for its management for 20 years.New World Development. (23 May 2003). New World Group to Contribute HK$40 Million to the Avenue of Stars. Press Release. JuneThe Leisure and Cultural Services Department set up a Management Committee to oversee the management and performance of Avenue of Stars.HKSAR Government. (2004). Avenue of Stars. Annual Report 2004 Leisure and Cultural Services Department.2011AugCNN's website CNNgo listed the Avenue of Stars as one of the "World's 12 Worst Tourist Traps" because it focused only on the provision of souvenir booths and lacked comfortable resting areas. Thus, the Tourism Commission and the LCSD contacted the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the AoS Management Company Limited to explore appropriate improvement measures including the provision of additional resting facilities in the vicinity of the AoS.HKSAR Government (26 October 2011). LCQ4.: Tourist attractions in Hong Kong. Press Release.2012Oct 25Yau Tsim Mong District Council requested New World Development to develop a revitalization proposal of Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to meet the growing number of tourists in the future.Task Force on Harbourfront Development in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing. (1 September 2015). The Avenue of Stars and Salisbury Garden Revitalisation Plan – Progress Update.2013Jan 10New World Development submitted a preliminary proposal to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.Yau Tsim Mong District Council. (10 January 2013). 2012 – 2015 Yau Tsim Mong District Council District Facilities Management Committee 7th Meeting Minutes.2014OctNew World Development developed a revitalisation plan for Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront.Task Force on Harbourfront Development in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing. (1 September 2015). 20th Meeting Minutes.2015JanThe revised design proposal was presented to the Task Force on the Harbourfront Commission in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing.8JulyA non-public consultation was conducted by the Town Planning Board.Aug1. Green Sense () and Professional Commons () requested the abandonment of the Plan in a press conference;“環團反對優化尖咀海濱 憂損市民休憩空間”. Oriental Daily. 20 August 2015.
2. TPB approved the Plan.“城規會有條件批准尖東海濱計劃 稱不考慮合作方式”. Inmedia. 21 August 2015.
3. Action Group on Protection of the Harbour member Ching Wing Fai, Cheung Chau resident Kwok Cheuk-kin and People Power lawmakers planned to apply judicial review against the Plan.Albert Chan. (31 August 2015). People Power seeks judicial review over TST plan. Radio Television Hong Kong.Sep1. The government announced plans to consult the public over the Plan and stated that the proposed contract with New World Development would not be signed this year.Karen Cheung. (2 September 2015). Contract for TST promenade revitalisation will not be signed this year, gov’t says. Hong Kong Free Press.
2. Commissioned the Public Engagement Exercise of the Plan Phase 1 till November 2015.Nov 20The Kowloon Shangri-La and Murdoch Investments Inc. filed a judicial review against the Plan.2016Jan Government commissioned the Public Engagement Exercise of the Plan Phase 2 until November.Task Force on Harbourfront Development in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing. (9 November 2015). 21st Meeting Minutes.FebThe Leisure and Cultural Services Department decided to revise the Plan by adopting a simple design for the Promenade and maintain the area as a passive public open space. NWD decided not to pursue the plans and would not assume management of the now simplified extension.Chantal Yuen. (17 February 2016). Gov’t backtracks on Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront development, will adopt ‘simplified plan’. Hong Kong Free Press.
Partnership Approach The Leisure and Cultural Services Department adopted the Partnership Approach () to entrust the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Revitalisation Plan to the New World Development Company Limited.
Under the Partnership Approach, New World Development would fully fund and carry out the revitalisation works. The daily management of Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront would be taken up by a non-profit-making organisation under New World Development. Leisure and Cultural Services Department would set up a management committee to oversee the operation and performance of the organisation. An advisory committee would also be formed by inviting experts, district and community personalities to advise on the management issues and enhance public participation.HKSAR Government. (4 November 2015). LCQ4: Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Revitalisation Plan. Press Release.
The revenue generated from the operation would be used for the management and maintenance of the Waterfront facilities. At the expiry of contract, the non-profit-making organisation would be required to return full amount of surplus, if any, to the Government. In case of a deficit, it would be borne by the organisation.
Stakeholders Action Group on Protection of the Harbour Harbourfront Commission Home Affairs Bureau Leisure and Cultural Services Department New World Development Company Limited Planning Department Town Planning Board Victoria Waterfront Concern Group Yau Tsim Mong District Council
Consultation and public engagement The Town Planning Board conducted a non-public consultation in July 2015. Concerned parties, such as hotel operators, owners of commercial buildings along the waterfront, and residents nearby, were invited to express opinions on the Plan. 340 submissions were received, of which nine supported and 328 opposed the Plan.“九成意見反對仍批准改建 城規會 割四萬呎海濱予新世界”. Apple daily. 22 August 2015.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, together with New World Development, further launched a series of public engagement exercises in two phases, with a view to deepening public understanding to the detailed design and future operational arrangements of the plan.HKSAR Government. (14 September 2015). LCSD enhances public engagement on Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront design. New World Development also set up a website on 10 October through which the public can give opinions on the updated design of the Plan.
The phase one engagement was held from September to November 2015. Roving exhibitions on the updated design were staged in places including Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, Hong Kong Cultural Centre and other the Leisure and Cultural Services Department venues from 26 October to 6 November 2015. The exhibition included a video, a 3D model, a questionnaire on iPad. In addition, six focus group meetings were held from 30 September to 22 October 2015 to gauge opinions from key stakeholders.Task Force on Harbourfront Development in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing. (9 March 2016). 22nd Meeting Minutes.
Scheduled from January to June 2016, the phase two engagement was designed to focus on the future operational arrangements of the revitalised promenade. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department proposed to set up an Advisory Committee, composed of experts, district personalities and representatives of the art, film and tourism industries, to serve as a platform to steer the implementation of the plan. However, the phase two engagement did not proceed as because of the announcement to call off the project.
Controversies Legitimacy of consultation
During the non-public consultation in July 2015, the Town Planning Board received opinions concerning decrease in pedestrian flow during the construction period, disturbance to neighbourhoods, the privatization of public space, etc.“星光大道擴建 商戶促城規否決”. Sing Tao Daily. 11 August 2015 However, despite the widespread opposition, the Planning Department decided in the meeting that they did not oppose the Plan. Civil Renaissance criticised that the district council ignored the public opinions and reluctant to hold public consultation.思言行. (29 September 2015). “區議會論述（三）：我們想要一個甚麼樣的區議會？”
As the later public engagement exercises were co-hosted by the New World Development, the Victoria Waterfront Concern Group argued that the government, for its first time, allowed property developer to exercise government power. Alfred Lai, member of the concern group, said it was ridiculous to ask the public to express their opinions to a business corporation who had not signed any contracts with the government.“星光大道深化諮詢 財團疑越權”. Epoch Times. 16 September 2015. In addition, he also criticized the public engagement exercise was not a genuine consultation as public tender was not an option in the agenda. “The engagement only aimed at discussing the operational arrangement of the decision previously made by the government. Work first, then consultation,” he noted.
Diffused role of Harbourfront Commission
Inconsistency stances between the government and the advisory body had been alleged by public. Chairman Nicholas Brooke said the revitalization plan should be contracted out through a competitive process. Member Paul Zimmerman said the decision to award the company with potential conflict of interests “did not look good to the public.” “尖東海濱擴建 海濱會未傾圖則 城規會搶先通過”. am730. 7 September 2015.
In addition, Harbourfront Commission told the media that they had not been consulted properly in the process. ‘“Only the general idea of revitalization had been presented in the previous meeting.” said Vincent Ng, member of Harbourfront Commission. New World Development said that they did not submit the proposal to Harbourfront Commission because there was no scheduled meeting in July and August. On the other hand, Stanley Wong, the vice chairmen of Town Planning Board, suggested that it is not necessary to inform and consult Harbourfront Commission whose opinions have no legal binding power and may serve as reference only.