The Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a smart city. It says so in the 2017 Policy Address(施政報告). I suggest we would start in Kai Tak, where we are building a brand new district. Here are three suggestions. And no, I’m not talking about wifi hotspots.
First, we should make sure all private and public housing use the district cooling system(區域供冷系統) we have built. Yes, there is a large cooling factory and a huge titanium pipe with cooling water under Kai Tak. If we use this, people don’t have to buy separate air-conditioners. This will save a lot of energy, and reduce air pollution from our power stations.
Secondly, we should build tunnels under the roads which can be shared by different utilities to put their pipes and cables(一條地下隧道存放所有電纜及喉管). Instead of digging up the road again and again for repairs, the engineers can simply access the tunnel via manhole covers.
Thirdly, we should promote the use of bicycles(鼓勵使用單車代步) for travel between the MTR station and destinations on Kai Tak: Sports stadium, parks, waterfront, hospitals, cruise terminal and housing. Not everyone will use the bike and certainly not when it rains so we keep public transport. Since Kai Tak is flat and there will be many bicycle lanes for safe cycling, some 30% short trips could be made using bicycles.
To make all three possible, the Government will have to learn a few things. The Housing Authority needs to figure out how to charge tenants for central air conditioning. The Lands Department has to change land lease conditions. The civil engineers need to clarify liability and charge utilities rent for use of the tunnels. And the MTR, hospitals and others need to add bicycle parking spaces.
Nothing is too difficult if we are smart enough to learn.
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