觀塘市區重建又走樣 市建局勿耍愚民伎倆

<轉載自2017年9月14日 明報 社評>

市建局歷來最大型的觀塘市中心重建項目，最近被揭大幅修改設計，「鵝蛋」形地標以及具有流水瀑布特色的梯田式公園悄然消失。新設計失去原本承諾的社區功能和概念，淪為商場式設計，變成幫發展商開路。市建局無視公眾諮詢結果，低調大幅修改觀塘重建設計，手法閃縮鬼祟，與處理旺角波鞋街重建項目如出一轍，解釋不盡不實，誠信令人懷疑。一之為甚，豈可再乎，市民不會容忍市建局再耍愚民伎倆，以「保留神髓」等花言巧語「走數」。

諮詢方案推倒重來 局方說法不明不白

觀塘市中心重建計劃10年前完成公眾諮詢，當時市建局標榜重建方案設計是「社區選擇」，採納了12項社區人士提出的建議，包括鵝蛋形多用途活動中心及政府辦公樓、梯田式公園、步行街等等。然而早前市建局卻在沒有諮詢公眾的情况下，向城規會提出修改設計，將花了兩年時間4輪諮詢才得出的原有方案改得面目全非，變相推倒重來。若非有人細心，及時發現文件內容有詐，市建局又可能像上次大幅修改波鞋街重建項目一樣，「過了海就是神仙」，日後市民只能被迫接受「米以成炊」的現實。

市建局的新設計再沒有「鵝蛋」，也沒有流水瀑布和花園式設計，連基層休閒空間亦被取締，完全背棄了原來設計將新舊區有機結合的概念，取而代之的是典型商場式設計，大受市民歡迎的梯田公園被商場天台綠化空間代替，原本希望便利市民轉車的改善交通設計，也因為新設計將新商場與街道隔絕而大打折扣，市民若要從港鐵站前往觀塘街市舊區，要麼被迫行經地面小巴站或屋苑後牆，忍受廢氣之苦，要麼就是穿過新商場，變相幫發展商催谷人流和生意。

市建局堅稱，雖然新方案加高地標商業建築20米，但是沒有改變原有地積比率，住宅、商業、政府及社區設施樓面面積全部維持不變，公眾休憩用地及綠化空間比例更有所增加，可是整個設計明顯偏重地產構思，由「社區選擇」變成「市場選擇」，已徹底違背社區共識和諮詢承諾，予人觀感是太過「士紳化」和「中產化」，排擠觀塘基層市民。市建局的做法是偷龍轉鳳，欺騙市民。

觀塘重建設計大幅修改，市建局卻迴避諮詢公眾，消息曝光後才出來解釋，然而說法不清不楚不盡不實。局方聲稱，為了加快重建步伐，盡快改善區內交通環境設施，決定將項目內兩大發展區分開發展，故此原先的一體化設計規劃「不再適用」，考慮到有「政府部門」認為，政府辦公大樓應該較為實用及易於管理保養，而為了保障公眾安全，公園內也不宜有流水瀑布，所以才得出新設計。市建局的說法，等同認為「政府部門」意見可凌駕長達兩年得出的公眾諮詢結果，局方遲遲未有清楚交代到底參考了哪些「政府部門」的意見，更令人質疑是否信口開河。市建局一日不清楚說明，市民絕對有理由懷疑局方企圖編織謊話來瞞天過海。

保留神髓變笑話 波鞋街前車可鑑

市建局繞過諮詢程序，遭觀塘區議會譴責，局方急急「補鑊」，承認「溝通不足」，又聲稱現時設計並非「最終方案」，可以考慮保留「鵝蛋」和水景瀑布等，並不希望「走數」，云云。局方表面上雖然承諾願意以舊設計為藍本，「將維持原有設計的神髓」，然而換另一個角度看，實際就是強調修改設計事在必行，只是改動多寡的問題。

對於鵝蛋和水景梯田公園等核心設計，市建局僅說「仍然有討論空間」，並沒有任何具體承諾。局方是否僅因為「風頭火勢」，暫時放軟身段，虛與委蛇，叫人懷疑。市建局眼中的「神髓」為何，迄今仍是一大問號。旺角波鞋街重建項目，市建局當初為了爭取支持而承諾的元素，諸如「空中花園」和「體育名人館」最終不見蹤影，被轟「走數」，市建局急忙搬出來的回應措施，僅僅是保留商場一個固定舖位推廣本地體育運動，代替「體育名人館」，聊作點綴敷衍了事，實際是愚弄市民，不搞也罷。如果市建局覺得這也可以算是「保留神髓」，市民實在有理由擔心局方會否照辦煮碗處理觀塘重建方案。

由囍帖街到波鞋街重建項目，市建局一再「走數」失信於民，市民早已憤憤不平，現在觀塘重建方案隨時又面目全非，是可忍孰不可忍。市建局必須尊重原有方案，不能違背其設計理念，任何顯著改動都必須認真諮詢公眾，不能再耍騙人愚民把戲。

The URA deception

THE Kwun Tong Town Centre project, the biggest redevelopment plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to date, has recently been found to have undergone major design alterations. The proposed oval-shaped landmark and terraced park complete with flowing water and falls have been covertly removed from the plan. With the absence of previously promised social functions and ideas, the new design is nothing more than that of a shopping mall, with property developers being the sole party to benefit from it.

It was ten years ago when the public consultation exercise on the Kwun Tong Town Centre project was completed. Back then, the redevelopment project was advertised by the URA as the manifestation of "the community's choice", as twelve suggestions had been put forward by members of the community, including an oval-shaped multi-purpose centre and government building, a terraced park and pedestrian zone. But the URA has recently proposed changes to the design to the Town Planning Board — without consulting the public — and altered a plan that came of four rounds of public consultation that altogether spanned two years beyond recognition and to such an extent that it is no different from redesigning the project from scratch. Had it not been for some extremely watchful eyes, the URA could have had its way as it did with its alterations of the "Trainers Street" project, with the public having no choice but to accept the fait accompli.

In the new design, the URA does away with the oval-shaped building, the waterfalls and the garden theme. Not even the recreational space is preserved. This is a complete betrayal of the concept of juxtaposing the old and new parts in an organic way, the result being a typical mall design. The terraced park, hugely popular among members of the public, is being replaced by a green area on the rooftop. The original proposal on enhancing transportation by making it easier for residents to change will be considerably diluted, as the shopping mall will become disconnected from the streets under the new design. People who want to go to Kwun Tong's old market district from the MTR station will either have to pass the minibus stations on the streets or walk round the back of the estate (thus enduring the exhaust emissions) or go through the new shopping mall (thus helping property developers promote the flow of people as well as business).

The URA stresses that though the landmark commercial building will be 20 metres taller under the new plan, the plot area remains unchanged, as does the floor area of the residential, commercial and governmental buildings and social facilities. The proportion of public recreational area and green space will even increase. However, as the entire project has more emphasis on real estate and is now a manifestation of the "choice of the market" rather than the "choice of the community", it is a complete betrayal of the consensus of the community and the promises made during the public consultation. It also gives people an impression that it is too friendly to the landed gentry and the middle class and discourages people from the grassroots stratum. The URA is trying to pass the project off as something it claims it to be, and this is deception.

The URA chose not to consult the public again after all the major alterations to the Kwun Tong plan. Not until the news broke did it step forward and offer an explanation, which is lacking in clarity and detail.

From the Wedding Card Street to the Trainers Street development plan, the URA has repeatedly gone back on its word and violated people's trust. Members of the public have already been seething with anger. Now the Kwun Tong plan is likely to be altered beyond recognition. If this is condonable, what isn't? The URA must respect the original plan and must not depart from the ideals of the original design. The public should be consulted on every major change in a serious manner. The URA must not carry on with all its deception.

觀塘市區重建又走樣 市建局勿耍愚民伎倆

市建局歷來最大型的觀塘市中心重建項目，最近被揭大幅修改設計，「鵝蛋」形地標以及具有流水瀑布特色的梯田式公園悄然消失。新設計失去原本承諾的社區功能和概念，淪為商場式設計，變成幫發展商開路。

觀塘市中心重建計劃10年前完成公眾諮詢，當時市建局標榜重建方案設計是「社區選擇」，採納了12項社區人士提出的建議，包括鵝蛋形多用途活動中心及政府辦公樓、梯田式公園、步行街等等。然而早前市建局卻在沒有諮詢公眾的情况下，向城規會提出修改設計，將花了兩年時間4輪諮詢才得出的原有方案改得面目全非，變相推倒重來。若非有人細心，及時發現文件內容有詐，市建局又可能像上次大幅修改波鞋街重建項目一樣，「過了海就是神仙」，日後市民只能被迫接受「米已成炊」的現實。

市建局的新設計再沒有「鵝蛋」，也沒有流水瀑布和花園式設計，連基層休閒空間亦被取締，完全背棄了原來設計將新舊區有機結合的概念，取而代之的是典型商場式設計，大受市民歡迎的梯田公園被商場天台綠化空間代替，原本希望便利市民轉車的改善交通設計，也因為新設計將新商場與街道隔絕而大打折扣，市民若要從港鐵站前往觀塘街市舊區，要麼被迫行經地面小巴站或屋苑後牆，忍受廢氣之苦，要麼就是穿過新商場，變相幫發展商催谷人流和生意。

市建局堅稱，雖然新方案加高地標商業建築20米，但是沒有改變原有地積比率，住宅、商業、政府及社區設施樓面面積全部維持不變，公眾休憩用地及綠化空間比例更有所增加，可是整個設計明顯偏重地產構思，由「社區選擇」變成「市場選擇」，已徹底違背社區共識和諮詢承諾，予人觀感是太過「士紳化」和「中產化」，排擠觀塘基層市民。市建局的做法是偷龍轉鳳，欺騙市民。

觀塘重建設計大幅修改，市建局卻迴避諮詢公眾，消息曝光後才出來解釋，然而說法不清不楚不盡不實。

由囍帖街到波鞋街重建項目，市建局一再「走數」失信於民，市民早已憤憤不平，現在觀塘重建方案隨時又面目全非，是可忍孰不可忍。市建局必須尊重原有方案，不能違背其設計理念，任何顯著改動都必須認真諮詢公眾，不能再耍騙人愚民把戲。