波鞋街重建違諾 市建局欺瞞公衆

<轉載自2017年8月29日 明報 社評>

旺角波鞋街重建計劃由市建局主導，已經完成，惟當初為了爭取支持而承諾的公眾參與元素，不見蹤影，住宅總面積和單位數目卻顯著增加。雖然米已成炊，貨不對辦，市民大眾也無可奈何，但是市建局失信於民，必然影響日後具爭議重建項目，因為市建局為自己烙上了不可信的烙印，社會大眾對其言行舉措，將會猜疑。市建局將為此付出代價，市區重建因此增添更複雜因素。

爭支持承諾保留特色 改設計增住宅棄綠洲

這項重建計劃歷時10年，由於涉及樓宇為運動用品商舖聚集經營之地，極具特色，不僅業界反彈，社會人士亦關注，並引發爭議。市建局為了爭取支持，宣布重建計劃時，聲稱會保留波鞋街的地區特色，採用運動體育作設計主題，打造成媲美日本東京原宿的大型「體育用品城」，期望能與鄰近的麥花臣運動場及室內場館產生協同效應。當時市建局表示，新商場預留商舖供受重建影響的波鞋街商戶進駐，最高兩層用作康體文娛場所，提供健身、康樂設施，並設立本港首個「體育名人館」，擺放與本地運動員相關展品，以表揚他們的傑出成就；另外，商場設有向公眾開放的「空中花園」，為旺角提供鬧市綠洲，云云。

重建完成，住宅大廈已經於今年初入伙，新商場則在上月開放，惟整體格局與市建局當時宣示有很大不同，其中商場由5層縮至3層。記者本月中到場所見，商場已開放地面、1樓及2樓，大部分商舖由連鎖運動品牌進駐，部分店舖正裝修，3樓暫未開放，市建局原先提出的「空中花園」不存在，「體育名人館」亦不見蹤影。

「空中花園」和「體育名人館」是市建局爭取支持，注入回饋社區、公眾參與元素的兩個賣點，反對聲音因而基本消失，收購重建獲開綠燈。現在貨不對辦，市民感覺被欺騙了。市建局解釋，城規會後來訂定新的高度限制，規定旺角等多個地區的新建築物最高為100米，降低了20米，原先方案因而受影響；加上當年政府要求增加通透度、綠化率及樓宇後移等因素，市建局遂於2011年修訂設計，將原本5層的商場平台改為3層高，刪去原先兩層的「康體文娛場所」。

市建局諉過城規會調低高度限制，實質轉移視線。事實上，高度新規定並非針對商場，而是就整座建築物作出高度限制，然則，市建局修訂設計時，只要減少住宅層數，就可以維持商場仍然有5層，用作康體文娛場所的空中花園，就不至於被消失了。現在重建完成了，市建局捨棄社區參與元素，住宅樓面面積則由原方案只有約15萬方呎，修改後增加至18.67萬方呎，增幅超過20%，住宅單位數量亦由原先290個增至439個。設計修改一增一減，以近年樓價節節攀升，市建局在波鞋街重建計劃的收益，肯定十分可觀，只是，設若此乃剝奪公眾利益的結果，則市建局的道德操守十分可議。

公眾不會忘記 市局將付代價

市建局說修改設計諮詢過油尖旺區議會，當區區議員證實曾有此事，不過，當時卻不知道修改了那麼多和空中花園不見了。有關情况，可理解為市建局借區議會「過橋」，所謂諮詢時不盡不實，區議會無法知道修改細節。市建局此舉是玩弄程序，與真正的程序公義風馬牛不相及。另外，由於重建波鞋街涉及公眾參與，市建局即使諮詢區議會，也應該公開交代最新情况和修改設計，讓公眾討論，才符合市建局與社會大眾就此事的無形「共識」，市建局的做法，實質「隱瞞」公眾，不能接受。

還有一點值得注意，城規會前副主席黃遠輝說，雖然波鞋街重建方案受高度限制影響，若平台層用作提供「空中花園」等公共空間，市建局提出申請，城規會可考慮公眾利益為由酌情審批。市建局從未向城規會申請放寬限制，然則要把「空中花園」從重建計劃消失，是市建局抑或合作地產商的意思？市建局欠公眾一個交代。

過去，市建局有重建項目也曾被批評違反承諾，其中在俗稱「囍帖街」的灣仔利東街重建項目，市建局曾以婚嫁作主題，承諾受影響商戶可重返利東街繼續經營。不過，重建完成後，市建局卻在新商場的租約條款加入「一流購物商場」條款，令以往囍帖街的小商戶難以進駐，最終大部分商舖成為名店或連鎖店。「囍帖街」或許還有小商戶未能登大雅之堂的問題，波鞋街卻是市建局明明白白的背信棄諾，公眾對此莫奈之何，看不到有什麼辦法可以抗衡，即使如此，市建局這些違諾紀錄，公眾不會忘記。今日，或許市建局以為過得海就是神仙，他日，市建局在其他重建項目將會付出代價，也將使市區重建增添變數。

The URA has blatantly broken its promises

THE redevelopment plan of "Sneakers Street", which was led by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), has now been completed. But the element of public participation which was promised by the URA in a bid to solicit support is nowhere to be seen, while the newly-built residential building has a much larger total residential floor area and higher number of apartments than originally planned.

The redevelopment plan was 10 years in the making. As the buildings involved were where shops selling sports goods were clustered in an iconic way, the plan not only provoked a backlash from the shops but also raised concern from society, so much so the plan became controversial. In order to garner public support, the URA, when announcing the redevelopment plan, claimed that they would preserve the local characteristics of Sneakers Street. They also said they would adopt the theme of sports for its design and turn it into a large "Sports Retail City" comparable to that in Harajuku, a district in Tokyo, Japan, in a way that generated synergy together with MacPherson Stadium and the indoor stadiums. Back then, the URA said that shops would be reserved in the "Sports Retain City" for stores in Sneakers Street affected by the redevelopment plan, while the two highest levels would be for leisure activities, where there would be fitness and leisure facilities. The shopping mall would also house a "Sports Hall of Fame", a first of its kind in Hong Kong, which would showcase exhibits related to Hong Kong athletes to recognise their achievements, as well as a "hanging garden" which would be open to the public to provide a green oasis in Mong Kok's hustle and bustle.

Now the redevelopment project has been completed. Residents began to move into the new residential building early this year, while the shopping mall was opened last month. But the shopping mall has a layout fundamentally different from what was first proposed by the URA. First, there are only three (rather than five) levels. As witnessed by reporters mid-last month, the ground floor, the first floor and second floor have already been opened, where chain stores selling sports goods have taken most of the shops. Some shops are still undergoing renovation. The third floor has not yet been opened. The "hanging garden", proposed by the URA, is nowhere to be seen, as is the so-called "Sports Hall of Fame".

Both the "hanging garden" and "Sports Hall of Fame" were selling points with elements of social benefits and public participation. The URA used these selling points to persuade the public to support the project. Because of them, opposition to the project largely disappeared, and the acquisition of old buildings and redevelopment plans were given the green light. Now things have turned out to be different from what was promised, and the public feel like they have been cheated.

The URA has a history of being criticised for going back on its word in redevelopment projects. It once proposed to use weddings as the theme for the redevelopment of Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai, commonly known as Wedding Card Street, promising that stores affected would be allowed to return to Lee Tung Street and carry on with their business. But after the redevelopment plan was completed, the URA included a clause of "top-notch shopping mall" in the lease agreement of the new shopping mall, which made it difficult for small stores originally in Lee Tung Street to gain a foothold in the new mall. The mall ultimately became largely made up of shops selling luxury items and chain stores. It could be argued that the issue of "Wedding Card Street" comes from the lack of elegance on the part of the small stores. But the case of Sneakers Street is one in which the URA has blatantly gone back on its word. As displeased as they are, the public are at a loss how to contend with the URA. But the public will not forget how the URA has broken its promises repeatedly. The URA might think that it is safe now that it has had its way. But the URA will pay a price in its future redevelopment projects, and this will bring uncertainty to urban redevelopment.

波鞋街重建違諾 市建局欺瞞公衆

旺角波鞋街重建計劃由市建局主導，已經完成，惟當初為了爭取支持而承諾的公衆參與元素，不見蹤影，住宅總面積和單位數目卻顯著增加。

這項重建計劃歷時10年，由於涉及樓宇為運動用品商舖聚集經營之地，極具特色，不僅業界反彈，社會人士亦關注，並引發爭議。市建局為了爭取支持，宣布重建計劃時，聲稱會保留波鞋街的地區特色，採用運動體育作設計主題，打造成媲美日本東京原宿的大型「體育用品城」，期望能與鄰近的麥花臣運動場及室內場館產生協同效應。當時市建局表示，新商場預留商舖供受重建影響的波鞋街商戶進駐，最高兩層用作康體文娛場所，提供健身、康樂設施，並設立本港首個「體育名人館」，擺放與本地運動員相關展品，以表揚他們的傑出成就；另外，商場設有向公眾開放的「空中花園」，為旺角提供鬧市綠洲，云云。

重建完成，住宅大廈已經於今年初入伙，新商場則在上月開放，惟整體格局與市建局當時宣示有很大不同，其中商場由5層縮至3層。記者本月中到場所見，商場已開放地面、1樓及2樓，大部分商舖由連鎖運動品牌進駐，部分店舖正裝修，3樓暫未開放，市建局原先提出的「空中花園」不存在，「體育名人館」亦不見蹤影。

「空中花園」和「體育名人館」是市建局爭取支持，注入回饋社區、公衆參與元素的兩個賣點，反對聲音因而基本消失，收購重建獲開綠燈。現在貨不對辦，市民感覺被欺騙了。

過去，市建局有重建項目也曾被批評違反承諾，其中在俗稱「囍帖街」的灣仔利東街重建項目，市建局曾以婚嫁作主題，承諾受影響商戶可重返利東街繼續經營。不過，重建完成後，市建局卻在新商場的租約條款加入「一流購物商場」條款，令以往囍帖街的小商戶難以進駐，最終大部分商舖成為名店或連鎖店。「囍帖街」或許還有小商戶未能登大雅之堂的問題，波鞋街卻是市建局明明白白的背信棄諾，公衆對此莫奈之何，看不到有什麼辦法可以抗衡，即使如此，市建局這些違諾紀錄，公衆不會忘記。今日，或許市建局以為過得海就是神仙，他日，市建局在其他重建項目將會付出代價，也將使市區重建增添變數。