HONG KONG The Hong Kong government has just unveiled plans for a new multibillion-dollar headquarters on a prime site right on the central harbor front -- and has immediately run into arguments and accusations of building an expensive folie de grandeur. Unnecessary, potentially an expensive eyesore, set to ruin the unique waterfront view -- these are just some of the outpourings of protests already made against the proposal.
The plans are certainly ambitious. The proposed new government complex, which will provide accommodation both for the main central government offices and for the legislative council, will help to create a so-called "civic corridor" on the central waterfront next to the headquarters of China's People's Liberation Army garrison.
The cost of the new complex has been put at HK$6.4 billion (about $850 million) even though the project has yet to be put out to tender. But this does not include the value of the land itself, which has been estimated as worth up to HK$16 billion.