The District Office seems determined to concrete a pleasant, short path from the north of Tai Peng (<a href = "http://www.centamap.com/scripts/esriMap.dll?name=cent&cx=829985&cy=810235&zm=2&ly=&vm=&lb=&lp=&mt=&ts=0&co=&sx=&sy=&sl=&ss=0&ca=0" target = "_blank">from house # 144 to the cable road</a>).

The DO rather disingenuously describes it as a "mud path", and says it will save 4 miuntes for firemen to reach the area. However, the path is flat and easily trafficable, certainly by the new all-terrain fire vehicles, so one suspects this is the usual cover story for a local developer who wants the government to build an access road for his construction vehicles.

More details later, for the moment note that Dr John Wedderburn in Tai Peng has led the campaign against this.

You can register a complaint by email to <a href= "mailto:claudia_l_tong@had.gcn.gov.hk?subject=Improvement%20to%20path%20in%20Tai%20Peng%20Old%20Village">the District Office</a>.
If you do, please copy your message to this forum.

The government is spending so much of our tax money on some useless projects, such as re-paving the uphill path to Tai Peng. I can't see the new path is any better than the old one. And my wife nearly injured herself when walking on the loose boards they used to cover the fresh cement. I understand the government wants to creat jobs, but they can as well do something on our water treatment. Our waste water is now simply pumped into the sea without any treatment. Or with a lesser budget, they can perhaps help me to exchange my windows.

FYI - a copy of DO's letter to me and my reply.
It would be great if she could hear from a lot of people!
John.

Dear Ms Tong,

You appear to have missed the point that I thought I had made clear.

The point is that emergency vehicles can NOW use this path. The only reason for concreting it would be if regular vehicular use of the path was planned.

All that is needed to make the path easy for emergency vehicle access is a little trimming of tree branches from time to time - this would still be necessary after concreting.

What you are about to do is spend $150,000 of taxpayers' money on building a road for construction vehicles. The emergency vehicle argument is a smokescreen.

I would be very happy to meet you at the site to show you - it would be immediately obvious to you that I am right.

Yours sincerely,
John Wedderburn.


> Thank you for your email of 20 September 2002 . We would like to provide the following information on this proposed project.
>
> This is a project to widen the footpath behind House No.144 at Tai Peng Old Village in North Lamma at an estimated cost of $150,000.
> We received this request from Islands District Councillor, Mr. FONG Kam-hung in March this year. In response to his request, a joint site visit with another District Councillor, Ms YU Lai-fun, a resident of Tai Peng Village, Mr. NG and our works colleague was conducted. It was found that the widening of the existing footpath to a width of 2 metres would facilitate the access of emergency vehicles as the footpath is very narrow and in inferior condition. On consultation with the Fire Service Department, we have been informed that at present, in the event of emergency at Upper Tai Peng Old Village, emergency vehicles can only park near House No.2A, Lower Tai Peng Old Village and crew members have to proceed to the scene on foot with equipment. Upon completion of the project which is supported by Fire Services Department, it is estimated that their response time in emergency rescue to the village could be reduced by 4 minutes, which could be crucial in an emergency situation.
> In designing the project, we would do our best to reduce its impact on the environment and avoid any tree felling as far as possible. We would re-plant trees if we really need to cut any trees.
>
> The Government is committed to utilise resources in an efficient and effective way for the development of rural areas. We listen to requests from different groups as we have a clear and specific objective of serving rural communities. When we implement works projects, we would seek a balance between the needs of locals and its impact on the environment.
>
> If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us again.
>
> Yours sincerely,
> Claudia TONG
> for District Officer, Islands

And they're at it again! Almost 2 years after the initial attempt, a notice went up, but this time proposing a concrete foot path at the same site. Quite unfortunately, I only saw the notice yesterday (11 July) and the submissions deadline of 8 July was already gone... Heartly apologies for the late notice, folks.

I saw that too. Actually, we'd about given up on stopping this, they had the fire department with their story that it was needed for emergency access. No matter that it was already accessible to fire vehicles, they insisted, so I thought it was a done deal.