Harbour Business Forum (HBF) Harbour Business Forum (HBF) was formally launched in June 2005, due to a concern about how developments in and around our harbour could have a negative impact upon the future development of Hong Kong. HBF is now one of the biggest business alliances, with 121 business members - including 10 Patron Members, 29 Corporate Members, 53 Professional Members and 29 Supporting Members from business chambers and professional associations.

HBF's Mission

Victoria Harbour is core to Hong Kong's heritage, an international icon and a source of inspiration to those who live and work in Hong Kong. The mission is to see Hong Kong's harbour and harbour-front areas become a genuinely vibrant, accessible and sustainable world-class asset. The aim is to engage with relevant stakeholders and the Government in order to agree upon, and implement, a common vision for the harbour.

HBF's Objectives and Achievements

• The creation of an overarching agency for the harbour
• To promote integrated planning and coordination of projects related to the long term economic, social and environmental interests of Hong Kong's harbour
• To support the Harbour Planning Principles and their application to all future harbour developments

HBF is primarily a research driven think tank, defined by its principles and objectives. These include the creation of an overarching agency for the harbour, and the need for any harbour development to take account of the public's wish (as captured by our research) for greater access to the harbour. HBF has stated the support for the Harbour Planning Principles and called for them to apply to all future developments.

Significantly, HBF's work has helped create a pluralistic approach to harbour issues and HBF has based its strategic, long term decisions on a better knowledge on the economic, social and environmental challenges of the harbour. Its popular International Speaker luncheons have made available specialist experience by sharing International Best Practice. HBF has also organised a design competition, harbour walks, a waterfront conference and other activities that have all promoted harbour issues and have been both informative and educational.

However, much remains to be done to deliver HBF's message and positively influence the harbour planning process.

HBF Work Program

The Harbour Business Forum has many achievements to its credit and has grown to become Hong Kong's most significant harbour business alliance.

Research Focus

HBF has committed substantial financial resources to research how best to turn Hong Kong's harbour and harbour-front into a vibrant, accessible and sustainable, world-class asset. Recent research studies including the:

• Study of Institutional Arrangements
• Business Opinion Survey
• Harbourfront Connectivity Study
• Sustainable Transport Opporunity for the Harbour-front
• What is on Hong Kong's Harbour
• Guidelines for a Sustainable Harbour
• Victoria Harbour: An Economic Asset Not Fully Realised
• Harbour Public Opinion Survey
• Review of Central Reclamation and Waterfront
• Harbour Values Study
• Additional studies that are underway include: Integrated Harbour Vision and Plan for Victoria Harbour

Government Engagement

As a coalition, HBF responds to Government initiatives relating to harbour development. HBF will initially review and comment on the Harbour Planning Principles and Harbour Plan Review (currently being developed by the Harbour-Front Enhancement Committee [HEC]). Once these are finalised, HBF will strongly encourage their rigorous application to all on-going and future developments. We will stress the need for holistic and integrated planning and for the assessment of all territorial needs, both on and around the harbour.

• Letter sent to Legislative Council Subcommittee on West Kowloon Cultural District Development with HBF comments on the Recommendation Report of the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of WKCD.
• Letter sent to Planning Department with HBF comments on the Stage 1 Public Engagement for the Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbour-front (NCH).
• Letter sent to HEC with HBF comments on Draft Harbour Planning Guidelines for Victoria Harbour and its Harbour-front areas
• Letter sent to Planning Department with HBF comments on the Public Consultation Preliminary Outline Development Plan (PODP) for Kai Tak Stage 3
• HBF Public Opinion Survey and more
  

Awareness Raising

In order to foster the interest and participation of the business community and other harbour stakeholders, HBF organises a number of local and international events addressing best practice and waterfront development.

For further information on enagaging HBF, membership, events and harbour gallery, please contact HBF website or contact Ms Brenda Fung (+852.2784-3938), Coordinator of Harbour Business Forum.