N Metropolis 'cries out for top-notch civic icon'

The quality of a government complex proposed to be built in Kwu Tung North should be high, as befits an investment in Hong Kong's civic pride and its being a flagship for the Northern Metropolis, said a member of the Sub-Committee on Planning and Land Conservation on Friday. Barry Wilson's remarks came after a HK$9.9 billion development plan was proposed for a 35-storey office block that would see the middle and upper floors primarily used for government offices and the ground and lower levels housing community facilities such as a district library, a post office and a kindergarten. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, he said the building was important as it would be the "civic icon" for the Northern Metropolis. Wilson said the building should prioritise quality and functionality as it will become the centre of "a 15-minute walkable transit-oriented design community" and stressed a need on the part of the government to balance costs with community needs. "This is a building we hope will be around in a hundred years that society will be proud of, that society will have used endlessly and will have proven good value for money," he said. Addressing concerns over the the proposed costs of the project, Wilson believed that the investment will be worth it in the long term. "If we're going to attract talent, if we're going to attract business, if we're going to attract tourists, if we're going to create civic pride and create cohesive communities, I think it wouldn't be outrageous to spend a bit more," he said. He noted that the suggested building plan of 380 parking spaces could be reduced in a walkable neighbourhood environment, saying that might be an area where cost savings could be made. Edited by Thomas McAlinden