20 November 2003

The Honourable Tung Chee Hwa
Chief Executive
Chief Executive's Office
5th Floor, Main Wing
Central Government Offices
Lower Albert Road
Hong Kong

Dear C.H.,

I write to protest at and wish to express my disappointment of government's decision to defer the Tamar development project citing that the project is of a lower priority.

The government should not have come to the decision without consulting the Legislative Council first as the latter's Public Works Subcommittee, of which I am Chairman, approved the request for upgrading the project to Category A last May. The decision fully demonstrated the government's disrespect to the legislature.

The decision itself is a real mistake too. Firstly, it is cheaper to develop the site now, when construction costs have come down very substantially, than later when the economy turns around. Secondly, deferring the project means lots of unrealized job opportunities. 

Despite the budget deficits, the government may consider adopting other funding alternatives such as private finance initiatives (PFIs) or bond issuance for financing the Tamar project. Indeed, for the past 3 years, I have made these proposals to you and the Financial Secretary on many occasions.

Considering the positive effects that the Tamar project will bring to the local construction industry and the economy as a whole, I would like to ask the government to make a second thought on the decision. 

I look forward to receiving your prompt reply. Indeed, I am still awaiting your response to other issues raised in my previous letters of 14 August 2003 and 31 October 2003. They include dwindling government works projects, issuing bonds and implementing PFIs for public works projects, morale of government engineers, strengthening communications between you and LegCo members, a LegCo delegation to Beijing, your accountability to the 800-member Election Committee which elected you, university intakes from outside Hong Kong to exceed 4% etc. 

(signed)
Ir Dr Raymond Ho Chung-tai