SCMP, today, Apr 29, 2013:

Silvermine Beach to get cultural makeover

"It was a tough task for Islands District councilors - deciding which of its more than 20 islands was most in need of a HK$100 million boost.

But after four meetings considering 13 proposals, they decided to put the funds towards revitalising Silvermine Beach at Mui Wo, Lantau Island.

The money will be used to create outdoor art and culture scenic areas for tourists and residents.

A community centre will also be built in Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island.

The plans which were not chosen included a hiking trail linking Discovery Bay and the Disneyland Resort, on Lantau.

There was also a proposal to renovate the Tai O community hall, and one to build a food and dining market in Tung Chung, both also on Lantau. And it was suggested the Cheung Chau ferry pier be expanded...."<HR>
That's the first I've heard of this, even though I'm trying hard to be pretty well-informed on these matters. Anybody knows more?

I was hoping that we got a kind of community centre in the shape of the just opened YSW Plaza besides the Gaido Pier, donated fully by HK Electric. But it's become another wire-fenced no-go area, like the entire first phase of the harbour reclamation, from the Gaido pier all the way to the Sewage Treatment Plant, all forbidden, no-entry zones full of construction, storage and garbage.

The YSW Plaza was originally named "Activity Centre", assumed to be for the entire community. It has only been used once for a single day so far in the 3 months since it's been completed, for the Lunar New Year Big Bowl feast for the elderly, organised by the Rural Committee. A very nice and well-organised community event, but the only one so far. No info about any upcoming event in there; it won't even be used for the Tin Hau Festival this week (Cantonese opera starting tomorrow) as it doesn't have a seaview for the VIPs to watch the dragonboat races.

In the meantime, the football pitch just across the street has been closed for a record 67 days, for the 20th anniversary performances of the Cantonese Opera troupe, Apr 30 - May 5.
The YSW Plaza would have made a nice replacement during this time for all the many sports activities of children, families and residents visiting and playing in the multi-purpose football pitch frequently.
I noticed teenagers playing football on the big square at the far end of the 1st Cable Road in Pak Kok Shan. Where else to play these days?

Let's get informed early, to make sure that this future "Community Centre" will really serve much of our community and not just a very few selected groups.

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Just found out about the community centre....
It seems that this will be the rebuilding of the Library close to the ferry pier as a 3-storey building for a new library and other uses.

The library has been under threat of being shut down at end of Dec, for several years now, whenever the lease from the landlord - the Rural Committee, I've heard - was running out and they wanted the building and land back for other uses. They tried to convince the Govt. for years to relocate it, as nobody wants to lose this great community resource.

... and the existing “Activity Centre", the Yung Shue Wan Plaza hasn't received its official occupation permit yet, but expected very soon. Then somebody who wants to use it, could make an attempt to use it, by contacting the Rural Committee. l'll assist if necessary but they're friendly and helpful in there and speak English well. Chairman Chan has recovered well from his stroke and was walking again, with a cane, at today's Tin Hau Festival & dragonboat races.

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they could build the community center near the football pitch. No need for more reclamation. Or retrofit the Police station, once they move to the new premises.

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From Home Affairs Dept.:

"The Islands District Council (IDC) has selected Enhancement for Silvermine Bay Beach and Redevelopment of the Lamma North Public Library at Yung Shue Wan as the Signature Projects for the Islands District..

The proposal for Yung Shue Wan entails an in-situ redevelopment of the Lamma North Public Library into a 3-storey building.
The second and third floors of the new building are tentatively planned to be used for the Lamma North Public Library, while the ground floor for the display of information and photos about the history of Lamma Island, as well as photos of major scenic spots of Lamma Island.
Details of the proposal will be subject to further studies, and deliberation at IDC. The IDC will consult stakeholders in the district to gauge their views on the proposals."

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Just asked in the Rural Committee office about using the 'YSW Plaza' and was told it is only for the use of the community and not for rent. When I said I was part of the community she clarified that she meant only for the use of Rural Committee... so once or twice a year when they feed the oldies... money well spent then

Glossary of local government terms
community = Rural Committee
stakeholders = Rural Committee
villagers = Rural Committee
consultation = endorse whatever the Rural Committee wants

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Otherwise, there is notice up about a meeting on 5th October in Central (can't recall the address) when the government will ask us to rubberstamp their proposal for the new library building.

The things that concern me is what will we do for a library for the months or year that it will take to build; and whether they will take the opportunity to enlarge the reclamation. But I know better now than to expect any answers or anyone to listen to anything I say at a government "consultation". I've wasted too much time taking them at face value.

The entire notice. I'll probably be attending this and reporting back.

But as the meeting will be in Cantonese only (with "assistance" for English speakers), I hope we could get a short report from a Cantonese speaker as well. Anybody, please?

This will obviously be happening long after the Bike Park construction which was scheduled to start last month just besides the YSW Library.
So we can look forward to an extended period of construction works directly adjacent to the YSW ferry pier, likely inconveniencing commuters for a long time to come.

The YSW Library has been in danger of being closed for years now. The landlord (the Rural Committee?), wanted the land and building back from the Govt., especially in such a prime and precious location, and no other convenient location for the Library could be located, they said. So this rebuilding will preserve the future of this community library, as it's to be hoped that the land will revert to the Govt.(?), likely at a massive profit for the landlord(s)?

The doubling of the Library's floor space and the new heritage center sound interesting, but let's see some more details first. Maybe more statues and monuments of fishermen, like in the newly opened Aberdeen Plaza, HK Island's "Fisherman's Wharf"?

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Here's the announcement in text form from http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/island/doc/common/activities/02-Notice_Eng.pdf

Islands District Council Public Forum on Signature Projects

Following the announcement of the Signature Project Scheme (SPS) by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address 2013, the Islands District Council has earlier selected the “Silvermine Bay Project”and “Yung Shue Wan Project” as the SPS projects of the Islands District. The Islands District Council will conduct a public forum to collect public views on the two projects. Details of the public forum are as follows:

Date: 5 October 2013 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Venue:3/F Multi-purpose Hall, City Gallery3 Edinburgh Place, Central (near the Lower Block of the City Hall)

Members of the public are welcome to attend and express their views. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The forum will be conducted in Cantonese. The Islands District Office will provide assistance to those requiring English interpretation.


Outline of Yung Shue Wan Project
The project will include the reconstruction of North Lamma Public Library into a three-storey building. The second and third floors of the new building will be used to accommodate a new North Lamma Public Library to enhance library services in North Lamma. Apart from the entrance to the library, the ground floor will be used as a Heritage and Cultural Showroom for Lamma, to exhibit the Island’s historic materials, artefacts and photographs, etc., such that visitors and local residents will have an overview of the Island’s history and scenic spots upon arrival.

Update from the library rebuilding public forum in City Hall today, in Cantonese only.
Thank you, Charlie!

"This forum is basically for collecting input. No handouts.
It seems nothing is final yet. Most of the questions they just replied they will study further.

They will start to call for tender for the design next year. Implementation will start 2017 the earliest.
Library services will not be interrupted."

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They just finished something similar along the seafront in Ap Lei Chau last year (Wind Tower Park) - quite well done I thought.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHK_Ap_Lei_Chau_Wind_Tower_Park_Exhibition_Gallery_boat_building_history_sign_April-2012.JPG

Looks very interesting, got to have a look at it sometimes.
An entire row of "Do Not" signs, even some pretty new and rare ones: "No drying of linen and clothes"!


Click image to see full-size version

But the rebuilding of the YSW Library will likely become just another Village House-type building with a G/F-only little heritage exhibition, showcasing a few photos of old Lamma, as seen before in a number of "official" local exhibitions.
Anything more than that will take quite a bit of input and "friendly persuasion" from the Lamma community, as the design is wide open for ideas for now.

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LG - Yes Wind Tower Park is quite an extensive development, but within it there is a small museum/picture gallery which about the size of a village house. The design is quite attractive and it might serve as a useful template. I did have my own photo of it, but can't find it right now. I'll see if I can get hold of one to illustrate the point...

Approved Lamma Island Outline Zoning Plan amended

"Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Town Planning Board today (April 11) announced amendments to the approved Lamma Island Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The amendments mainly involve the rezoning of the North Lamma Public Library site to the northeast of Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier from "Government, Institution or Community (1)" ("G/IC(1)") to "G/IC(4)" and two existing radio and television transmission station sites at Ling Kok Shan from "Conservation Area" to "G/IC(5)" and "G/IC(6)" respectively. Opportunity is also taken to update the Notes and Explanatory Statement to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information on various land use zones where appropriate.

The draft Lamma Island OZP No. S/I-LI/10 incorporating the amendments is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Islands District Office, and the Lamma Island (North) and Lamma Island (South) Rural Committees.

Any person may make representations in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before June 11.

Representations made to the Town Planning Board will be available for public inspection.

Copies of the draft Lamma Island OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/."

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When seeing this headline above, I expected the Town Planning Board rezoning the ex-Lamma Quarry from the current "Undetermined Use" to "Comprehensive Development Area" so they can start building anything they've already decided. Not yet. Maybe they'll wait with that till after the single public consultations in City Hall on May 3...

The Telecom Tower atop Ling Kok Shan (just above SKW, where Lamma's TV transmission and much of 3G/4G and other communications are centralised) is almost completed now after years of on-off construction. But it's still surrounded by barb wire and dumped construction materials all around. The Tower seems to work fine and I didn't know they needed to change the land zoning. By the way, there's a secret hiking path with fantastic views up/down from the adjacent helipad down via a partial, wooden "staircase" to SKW, too steep for most tourists but a great shorcut with amazing views over the ex-Quarry, all of SKW and all of Lamma and beyond.

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The rebuilding of the Library at the YSW Ferry Pier is still a few years off as there are no building plans yet and it's still open to ideas and input. What I know so far is that it'll be much larger, about $1,000sqft, 3 floors and has an approved budget of 40-50 million. This official "YSW Project" is almost half of the $100 budget that CY Leung has given to each District as a special one-time payment in his policy speech last year (?), $100 for the entire Outlying Islands District.

There were something like 20 project fighting for this extra budget; the discussions and in-fighting in the Outlying Islands District Council meetings between the different islands must have been epic, I'd guess. So let me give credit where credit is actually due, to Lamma's 3 District Councilors (Lammadonna, Chairman Chan and Chairman Chow of SKW) who managed to capture half of this special district-wide budget just for Lamma!
I've heard that one of the main reasons for securing this budget was the severe lack of public infrastructure on Lamma (full-time doctors, wet market, public spaces, etc.) which the competing Outlying Islands mostly got already as they have larger populations.

So let's follow up in due course with the plans for this very fancy $40-50 million "YSW Project" which will include 2 floors of library facilities (tripling the current size) but it'll also contain also a Lamma Heritage Center (ideas welcome!) and probably some other community uses, tbd. Let ALL of our 3 District Councillors (2 ex-officio councilors for indigenous residents, plus one (Yu Lai-Fan) elected to represent us non-indigenous residents) know your suggestions by contacting their friendly and helpful assistants!

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Well, I supply the facts and try to refrain from my own comments and opinions. Everybody is welcome to voice out their own opinions, pro and con, moderate or excessively cyncial, including the moderators.

I see my own role more as supplying correct, confirmed and mostly neutral info, adding minimal comments, chronicling the on-going changes in photos, posts and Lamma-zine stories. We have some very committed and passionate activists on this vibrant island, pro and con. I leave the hard struggles to them, but will happily report on any of their newsworthy activities.

But this place is definitely a-changing...

For example, I had a heated argument recently in South Lamma with a Senior Lammaite. He's 100% pro-Bike Park, advocates confiscating and destroying all bikes on the ferry pier frequently. He'd be eager to volunteer for daily patrols to clear the ferry pier of any obstructions, after the Bike Park will be completed and the ferry pier will supposedly become totally off-limits for any "obstructions". If the pier is not wide enough for two ambulances to cross each other, many people might die in a major ferry or pier accident, he claims.

He doesn't ride a bike, of course, and suggests that bikes shouldn't be allowed on Lamma at all; if you can't walk to the ferry pier you shouldn't live here! If you park you bike ANYWHERE on the island in a public space, it should be confiscated and destroyed. Simple and radical.

Yes, there's a wide range of opinions on Lamma on almost every topic...
See some recent public comments from Lammaites on Facebook, in English and not from indigenous residents:
Reclaim the harbour now! Build the ex-Lamma Quarry housing now!

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