Harbour Place
Encyclopedia
Harbour Place is a private housing estate
in Hung Hom
, Kowloon
, Hong Kong
.
of Hung Hom Bay
, it was an HOS
estate comprising 2,470 flat
s completed by the Hong Kong government in 2002. Since the government decided to suspend the scheme, Hung Hom Peninsula was sold to Sun Hung Kai Properties and New World Development
in February 2004. In November 2004, the developers decided to demolish and rebuild the buildings. The environmentalists, legislators and citizens were worried about the waste
pollution
and strongly opposed the plan. One month later, due to public concerns, the developers decided not to demolish the buildings and renovate existing flats and upgrade facilities instead. In 2008, the extensive renovation and refurbishment of what was once a public housing estate into a luxury residential complex was completed and the flats were sold to the public.
, former Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing) and Director of Housing, joined New World China Land Limited as executive director
and vice-chairman of the company. This raised public concern on conflict of interest
since Leung involved in the deal of Hung Hom Peninsula with New World China Land's parent company
, New World Development, during his term of service. The Government and Legislative Council
also involved in investigating Leung's case. One week later, New World China Land announced to terminate employment contract
with Leung without any compensation.
Private housing estate
A private housing estate is a term in Hong Kong that refers to a housing estate developed by a private developer, as opposed to a public housing estate built by the Hong Kong Housing Authority or the Hong Kong Housing Society. It usually is characterised with a cluster of high-rise buildings,...
in Hung Hom
Hung Hom
Hung Hom is an area of Kowloon, in Hong Kong, administratively part of the Kowloon City District, with a portion west of the railway in the Yau Tsim Mong District. Hung Hom serves mainly residential purposes though is mixed with some industrial buildings in the north.-Geography:Hung Hom is located...
, Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
History
Formerly called Hung Hom Peninsula and built on the reclaimed landLand reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
of Hung Hom Bay
Hung Hom Bay
Hung Hom Bay is a bay of Victoria Harbour, between Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong.Since 1850, the bay has been reclaimed many times: by 1996, it had nearly disappeared. All of present-day Tsim Sha Tsui East and Hung Hom Station of the MTR are on land reclaimed from the...
, it was an HOS
Home Ownership Scheme
The Home Ownership Scheme is a subsidized-sale programme of public housing in Hong Kong managed by the Hong Kong Housing Authority...
estate comprising 2,470 flat
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s completed by the Hong Kong government in 2002. Since the government decided to suspend the scheme, Hung Hom Peninsula was sold to Sun Hung Kai Properties and New World Development
New World Development
New World Development Company Limited , based in Hong Kong, is active in property, infrastructure, services and telecommunications. It was established in 1970 with Dr Ho Sin Hang as Chairman and Chow Chi Yuen as Director and General Manager...
in February 2004. In November 2004, the developers decided to demolish and rebuild the buildings. The environmentalists, legislators and citizens were worried about the waste
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
and strongly opposed the plan. One month later, due to public concerns, the developers decided not to demolish the buildings and renovate existing flats and upgrade facilities instead. In 2008, the extensive renovation and refurbishment of what was once a public housing estate into a luxury residential complex was completed and the flats were sold to the public.
Property description and facilities
Located along the Hunghom Waterfront in Kowloon, Harbour Place offers seven towers with a 64000 square feet (5,945.8 m²) Clubhouse with food and beverage service and an independent shopping arcade. Harbour Place features a five star hotel style lobby with the clubhouse offering a bowling alley, games room, gym, basketball, tennis, badminton courts and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.Leung Chin-man appointment controversy
In August 2008, Leung Chin-manLeung Chin-man
Leung Chin-man JP is a retired senior civil servant in the Government of Hong Kong the former Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.-Government career:...
, former Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing) and Director of Housing, joined New World China Land Limited as executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
and vice-chairman of the company. This raised public concern on conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
since Leung involved in the deal of Hung Hom Peninsula with New World China Land's parent company
Parent company
A parent company is a company that owns enough voting stock in another firm to control management and operations by influencing or electing its board of directors; the second company being deemed as a subsidiary of the parent company...
, New World Development, during his term of service. The Government and Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
also involved in investigating Leung's case. One week later, New World China Land announced to terminate employment contract
Employment contract
A contract of employment is a category of contract used in labour law to attribute right and responsibilities between parties to a bargain.On the one end stands an "employee" who is "employed" by an "employer". It has arisen out of the old master-servant law, used before the 20th century...
with Leung without any compensation.