The North Point Development Alliance was set up Sunday by legislators Choy So-yuk of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and Wong Kwok-hing of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, as well as eight councillors from Eastern District. It said it will work with community leaders and business and cultural organizations to improve living conditions in North Point, which has a large Fujianese community and is a popular shopping area with new migrants and tourists from the mainland.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alliance member Kwok Wai-keung said one of their main goals is to turn the district into a new cultural landmark.

"We've got prominent landmarks like the Bank of China Tower and International Finance Centre in Central, as well as the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, but there aren't any in North Point. We hope to develop the former North Point Estate site into a cultural hub," Kwok said.

He suggested that the government build a six-story multi-purpose cultural complex on the site of the Sunbeam Cinema on King's Road after its lease expires.

The cinema is popular with both locals and mainlanders as it is the only cinema in the SAR that specializes in staging Cantonese opera.

Kwok said the government could also redevelop the North Point ferry pier into a viewing terrace, providing a venue for the public to get closer to Victoria Harbour.

"It could stimulate the local economy and improve living conditions in North Point," he said.

The alliance has also proposed other measures, such as developing a food street at Tin Hau to help boost the economy, and urged the government to resolve traffic congestion and related problems, and improve environmental conditions in the district.

Choy rejected suggestions that the the alliance was set up with an eye to the district council elections in November.

"We're merely trying to foster unity in the district to increase our influence on the government concerning the district's redevelopment," she said.