HK's harbor protection group disbands after 30 years following law amendment

The Society for Protection of the Harbour (SPH), a prominent conservation group that successfully campaigned for Victoria Harbour's legal protection in 1997, announced its dissolution on Friday, citing recent legislative changes that undermined its mission.

Founded in November 1995, SPH played a pivotal role in establishing the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance through a private member's bill by then-legislator Christine Loh. The law famously declared Victoria Harbour as "a special public asset" to limit reclamation.

Chairman Hardy Lok Kung-chin expressed that the amendment of the ordinance meant they could no longer operate as before. He reflected that thirty years of effort had at least secured some level of protection for the harbor. 

The decision to disband followed Legislative Council revisions earlier this year that relaxed reclamation restrictions.

The dissolution occurred months after the Development Bureau accused SPH of spreading "misleading claims" about new reclamation plans. Officials refuted claims of having large-scale reclamation proposals and criticized the group for relying on "outdated 20-30-year-old plans and fabricated images."

Vice-chairman Winston Ka Sun-chu recognized the contributions of former Chief Executives Tung Chee-hwa and Carrie Lam. 

He noted that Tung had strongly supported their work and credited Lam for her significant role in the development of today's beautiful 26 km waterfront promenade, which he suggested Hongkongers should appreciate.