ReclamationReclamation

Hong Kong – A Disappearing Hong Kong – A Disappearing HarbourHarbour

PicturesPictures

What is reclamation?What is reclamation?

• This is the process of creating new This is the process of creating new land where there was once water.land where there was once water.

• Sand and rock from both the sea bed Sand and rock from both the sea bed and quarries are used to make the and quarries are used to make the new land.new land.

• Places where there is not very much Places where there is not very much land have land added to build on land have land added to build on through the reclamation process.through the reclamation process.

Where are reclamation projects Where are reclamation projects happening?happening?

Hong Kong Reclamation Hong Kong Reclamation ProjectsProjects• Central has three phase of Reclamation Central has three phase of Reclamation

two have already been finished and one two have already been finished and one that is planed to finish next yearthat is planed to finish next year

– They areThey are

• Reclaim 20 hectares of land and Reclaim 20 hectares of land and redevelop 6 hectares of land to make redevelop 6 hectares of land to make the Hong Kong station on the Airport the Hong Kong station on the Airport Express it stated in 1993 and ended Express it stated in 1993 and ended 19981998

Hong Kong Reclamation Projects Hong Kong Reclamation Projects (continued)(continued)2.2. Reclaim 5.3 hectares of land for Reclaim 5.3 hectares of land for

housing the the Headquarters of the housing the the Headquarters of the Government and the Legislative Government and the Legislative Council and 5 commercial sites, it was Council and 5 commercial sites, it was started in 1994 and ended in 1997started in 1994 and ended in 1997

3. The third one that is still in place is to 3. The third one that is still in place is to move the central Star ferry pier to move the central Star ferry pier to where it is now and built the Central-where it is now and built the Central-Wanchai bypass, originally it was Wanchai bypass, originally it was planned to reclaim 32 hectares of planned to reclaim 32 hectares of land but after many protests the land but after many protests the numbers was lowered to 18 hectaresnumbers was lowered to 18 hectares

Advantages of ReclamationAdvantages of Reclamation

• The main advantage of Reclamation The main advantage of Reclamation isis

More land to use for building reasonsMore land to use for building reasons

That might be shopping centres, That might be shopping centres, leisure facilities, government leisure facilities, government building, residential blocks and building, residential blocks and many othersmany others

Problems of ReclamationProblems of Reclamation

• The main problem with reclamation The main problem with reclamation is it basically spoils the scenery is it basically spoils the scenery during constructionduring construction

• It makes sound, air and quite a lot of It makes sound, air and quite a lot of water pollutionwater pollution

• It most importantly ruins nature, It most importantly ruins nature, (destroying hills or the ground to get (destroying hills or the ground to get rock and squeezing the sea in)rock and squeezing the sea in)