The Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531) (PHO) was enacted in June 1997 with only four sections and simple wording. Its implementation over the past two decades had been mainly shaped by two court judgments in 2004 and 2008 respectively. The Government has reviewed the PHO and proposed legislative amendments, emphasizing that the intention of the amendments was to improve harbourfront connectivity or enhance harbourfront areas for public enjoyment, and not for reclamation to provide land for sale or housing development.

The Development Bureau now invites different sectors of society and members of the public to give their views on the proposed framework of legislative amendments to the PHO. Your comments and suggestions can help us refine the legislative amendments with a view to maintaining the protection of the harbour while facilitating harbourfront development.