在保育與發展間找到平衡

Housing needs must outweigh sentimentality

The debate over Hong Kong's shortage of suitable sites for development, including easing the chronic (長期, 比long term 負面, 由長期病的長期引申) need for additional public housing, rages on.

Some people favour preserving the old cultural areas of the city, while others believe we should make better use of degraded or under-used areas of the city by building on them. (degraded= 退化了的)

The fact that there are few potential sites for development in Hong Kong is nothing new; the government has been trying hard to address this problem.

Among the many different solutions, I believe demolishing old buildings to provide land for new developments is the best idea. Building on existing sites minimises the harm to the environment caused by reclamation work, or construction in countryside areas.

There are arguments saying the government should not demolish old buildings because it will mean losing important parts of our cultural heritage.

I agree that some historic buildings with outstanding merit are worth preserving, such as the Grade 1-listed Lui Seng Chun, in Lai Chi Kok Road, Mong Kok - a typical 1930s example of Hong Kong's tong lau (or shophouse) architecture.

It makes perfect sense to preserve such remarkable buildings, instead of pulling them down. But we can't keep every old building because of a desire for preserving our past. Sometimes we worry too much about losing older areas, rather than allowing new buildings.

It seems wrong to be focusing on saving old parts of the city when we don't have enough land to provide essential housing for our residents. Surely, constructing much-needed homes for our population should be our top priority?

Reclamation as a solution has many drawbacks, including harming the environment and marine life (海洋生物, life是生物, Uncountable noun), including Hong Kong's iconic pink dolphin.

Without doubt, this solution does greater harm to the environment than the effects on our cultural heritage caused by demolishing old buildings to make way for (腾出地方；让路给; 留意, 係pave the way for, 有the
)new housing.

Sustainable development involves finding the correct balance between conservation and progress.(在保育與進步之間找到平衡) So, it's best that we don't get too sentimental when considering such issues.

Shirley Sham Wing-yin, Kowloon Tong