RC Slope Soaring in Hong Kong

現在的官真不知

好奈無去過清水灣，有沒有相睇

我可以同你講，真的很離譜，沿銀線灣迴旋處一路到布袋澳路段，現在你可以睇到電線柱、電燈柱、電線柱…延伸至清水灣迴旋處，迴旋處至放機位置石礡邊已打了柱洞而且我相很快便種柱，因電訊公司亦知到會遇到很多人極力反對豎立纜線桿對自然環境的嚴重破壞，電訊公司會以快刀斬亂麻方式種柱。現在新界偏遠地方亦不會以柱桿形式拉線但現在竟然發生在風景優美的大清路段，我相信一定有政府部門失職及錯誤審批亦可能電訊公司博大霧，因最近中電才在該路段掘地鋪線而PCCW亦是經地下鋪線，我不相信和記電訊（今日從阿堅處知到）鋪線可以例外。

我相信要攪一個救救大清行動，各位機友

I believe letter should be sent to the highways department who's responsible for approving road side excavation, and the Argriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department who's responsible for country park matters, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Home Affairs Bureau who's responsible for our leisure and well being in general (they have RC race tracks and boatig pool), the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and of course the ombusman to complain about:

In general, their failure to appreciate the true value of the subject area.
In particular, the lack of regard to preserve such values in approving the works, including:
1. the openess of a country park or country side;
2. the particularly nice view which actually makes it a scenic drive (featured in the last episode of Healing Hands);
3. and of course its uniqueness as a great flying site.

And request them to stop the works, which is done at the wrong place and probably does more damage then contribution. If they want to lay some cable lay it under the concrete, or under the water. Not a lovely sight to erect posts...

went there today. The holes look like they're putting in street lamp posts? There're also ugly posts bringing temporary electrical supply to nearby construction site.

I doubt if we have a strong case if they're really erecting lamp posts, but then by comparing the distance between lamp posts and the width of the road there's also doubt whether they're really needed on both sides. Not many roads in the country side do that.

I went there today also. I am quite sure that they are not the Lamp posts. On the Clear Water Bay Road near the Silver Cape 銀線灣 section, you can see how the posts look like after the job finished. Since the road has higher trees nearby, they are not obvious. The height of the new posts will be about half of the existing Lamp Posts. There will be about 3 posts in our flying area.

I will go there again tomorrow to see whether there are any information near the constuction area so we can check with the corresponding departments. The post looks like they will be used for holding the Communication cables. I think it is contructed by the telecom company and have approved by Lands Department 地政總署. Need to get more information before confirm.

If there are overhead cable set up in the area, the following problem will appear:

1) The scenic view would be damaged seriously. Every day you can see vistors stopped there to enjoy the refreshing breeze. The cable setup will ruin an important scenic site of Sai Kung.

2) It is dangerous to vistors if the gliders fly too close to the cable. This will happen for the new pilots or when the wind is strong. Once the planes hit the cable or post, the broken plane will fall down to hurt the visitors or the plane will fall down to the road center which may cause traffic accidents.

The construction will proceed very fast and we need to stop it as soon as possible. Once they set up the post, it will be very difficult for them to remove it. If there are any fast procedure that can help, please suggest it to us. We are not the expert to deal with this, but I know we need to do something fast to protect the scenery and make our flying safe.

When I checked the Civil Aviation Department web site, I can find the following message. It is obvious that the Government already accepted the existance of our Clear Water Bay flying site. We may not be weak if the case being discussed in public.

Where you may fly
The following locations are popular with model aircraft operators:

(i) San Wan in Yuen Long;

(ii) Nai Chung in Sai Kung;

(iii) Tate's Cairn in Sha Tin; and

(iv) Clearwater Bay Road in Sai Kung.

The hilltop of Clearwater Bay Road is within the "East Pass Outbound" passage of air traffic, which is used by light aircraft and helicopters. Operators of model aircraft should therefore ensure the safe passage of such air traffic, especially in poor weather conditions when pilots are forced to fly much lower than usual.

Just my little cents:

We might first appeal for the public awareness and support:
Only few of us could do very little. Today is Sunday, set up some posters to express our discontent and hang it on our cars. (Do not hang on other place).
Secondly, signature campaign at the flying site. The collected signatures (from the vistors) could attach to any future correspondance.
Thirdly, contact the District Board's Member.
They hold regular 'District Management Conference' with Governmant Officials.
Forth, call reporters. Suggest them to post an editorial such as "End of soaring" or " The last resort" etc......

Hope these could help.

Pong, If I put some notes besides the 3 Holes on floor, will it be a problem? We need to let the workers know that some action will be coming and they should not do the job rush.

When I get more information, we need to have a meeting someday this week so we can share the opinion and share the works. Different parties will have their various knowledge in different field.

No need to go inside the Country Club, you can actually play golf right here.

Hole 2


Hole 3


Pole in Hole (near CWB2 Parking Lot)


Pole (same as above)


Sign on Work Truck

I think the best we should do now is to alert district board members in Sai Kung and let them to gather more opposition in this kind environmental unfriendly construction. In the mean time we can hold a signature campaign to show our supports for their fright against this damaging construction to the environment and our flying site.

I have checked the district board in Sai Kung, there is an outspoken woman, 胡嵐英, who is also committee member of OFTA, AFCD, and an environmental group 長春社.
http://obs.org.hk/DC.background.html

If we fire a complain to her, I think the effect will be more devastating, than we are just making noise as a small group. Do you think so? Or any other suggestion?

胡嵐英 is not on the name list of Sai Kung District Board. But from her listed post, I am sure she can give us a help, but I am worry that it will still take a long time to stop the Cable Post set up.

From the information I got, the cable will be used for holding the Hutchison Boardband cable. I will try to call Hutchison tomorrow to see what can we do. Once the posts set up completed, I think it will be more difficult for them to remove it. We need to stop the Post setup as soon as possible. If any pilot friends know the procedure to stop the 3 posts setup, please let us know. I repeat, we are not expert in this kind of work. If we do not do anything, I think we will see the 3 ugry posts in next few days.

He is the member of parliament Mr.Lau Wai Cheung(Sai Kung location),He already help me to stop the worker to build the cable (very close in my house).
I think ,he can do something for his (Sai Kung parts )
This is the numnber of his office :27196082
To all pilot LEASE CALL HIM NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

剛收到西貢區區議會副主席周賢明議員通知，他已經與和記寬頻之負責工程師通過電話，同時亦已通知地政總處有關事件。清水灣飛行場上之工程應該會很快暫時停止。他們現正商討如何解決事件。

Dear All

Leave you signatures here to support our objection:
1. Lou Tsz Ming

Leave you signatures here to support our objection:
1. Lou Tsz Ming
2.Cheung Wan Kin
3.Cheung Tze Ching
4.Law Siu Ling

If we do the signature here, I think 10 pages still not enough.
In fact, the members of District Council are helping us on that. They are dealing with the corresponding departmants now. But he told me the progress has been stopped at the moment and they will seal the 3 holes at site before tomorrow. If any pilot friends see that the workers continue to setup the posts, please call me immed. 9033 9701 ken

Thanks Ken, you are doing a great job!

Let us know if you need help.

I think Mr. Chau of the Sai Kung district board will fire all the campaign to different departments and sort out the issue. However, to support him, we may prepare a letter of objection to the construction with as many signatures as possible. I guess we can ask the pilots and guests to sign it during the slope combat event this Sunday.

Try the web site below where we could create a petition and invite people to sign there:

http://www.gopetition.com/

Yes, take the chance the day to signatures the letter.

Tsz Ming

I believe every glider pilots would not like to see the 3 poles standing on the flying site with a overhead cable hanging on. Clear Water Bay is not just a flying place, it is a refreshing place for visiters and it is an important scenic point of Sai Kung. The government should think about a method to protect the area, and should not let any organisation ruin it.

I can say that the Clear Water Bay flying site is our Secondary school, where we learn how to fly; we learn how to accept; we learn how to support. You can hear a lot of happy laugh there and it is a place for us to touch nature. It's function is still continue and the courses here are still running everyday. If one day you know some poeple is going to destroy your Sceondary school, I beliveve all students, no matter they are graduated or fresh new, will all come back and do everything possible to protect it. We are just part of them.

Report to Ken and all fellow:

I went to the CWB this afternoon around 3:00 to take a look.
Those big deep hole is still there.
One visitor almost fell down because nothing to cover.


Tsz Ming