The revised construction plan for Hopewell Centre II was welcomed by academics and concern groups, but with reservations.

Ada Wong, former Wan Chai District Council president, said the developer had listened to public opinion and reduced the scope of its building plan. Other developers should model on its practice, she added.

Hung Wing-tat, associate professor of civil and structural engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, praised the government and the developer in bringing about the new proposal.

"The government has done a lot of work in compelling Hopewell to reduce the scale of the development by 31 percent. Hopewell's decision is in the right direction, although it was made in the light of strong public opposition," he said.

Representing the residents, Sally Ho supported the revised proposal but said she was worried about the potential traffic problem.

"The building will be a conference hotel, which will attract numerous people and conference organizers, yet there can be only one exit and entrance at Kennedy Road," said Ho, spokeswoman of the Kennedy Road Protection Group.

The government informed residents that the Kennedy Road and Queen Road East junction will become overloaded this year, so the burden will be even greater upon completion of the hotel, she added.

Ho hoped the developer shows its traffic-assessment report to the residents to allay their concerns.

Town Planning Board member and architect Bernard Lim declined to comment much on the project, saying the revised plan still needs to be submitted to the board for approval.

(HK Edition 11/20/2008 page1)