The ground breaking for the new Ocean Park took place last week amid typical Zemanesque razzmatazz. Allan Zeman understands entertainment: I have no doubt that, under his guidance as chairman, the new and improved Ocean Park will be a world-class facility and a successful tourist attraction. But I couldn't help being struck by ironies and contrasts, as I sat there amid the self-congratulations for a bright future - in the presence of Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, the Tourism Board chairwoman.
When Ocean Park was established 30 years ago, residents of Repulse Bay and Deepwater Bay were still able to snorkel in clear water and see fish. Today, Ocean Park, as its name implies, showcases marine life and marine conservation. The coral reef aquarium is one of the world's best - a spectacular display of nature's diversity and bounty. But Repulse Bay and Deepwater Bay are effectively dead. We have replaced a natural wonderland with an artificial one. As tourists ride the cable car to the headland and look down on a chain of picturesque bays, how many are aware that the waves hide a scene of devastation?
At the very moment Mr Tang was making his speech, trawlers were plying back and forth in Deepwater Bay, on the park's doorstep. Their heavy nets, weighed down by iron plates and weights, were being dragged along the sea floor, scooping up the few fish that remain. But also, with each pass, they were scouring and destroying the seabed habitat on which these very fish depend to feed and breed. Trawling has been described as the most destructive of all fishing methods. Inshore trawling is banned in many countries, including mainland China. Worldwide, countries are coming together to agree to ban deep-sea trawling in international waters. But, in Hong Kong, trawling is allowed to continue right up to the shoreline.
In his speech, Mr Tang mentioned tourism, jobs and the economy. The government is funding, either directly or through the underwriting of bank loans, over HK$5 billion for the redevelopment of Ocean Park. It has paid the right attention and made sure that the new facility will be a success.
Who is paying attention to the marine environment? For a fraction of that amount of money, we could set up compensation and retraining schemes for fishermen, establish and enforce no-take marine reserves and recreate a true, natural underwater wonderland that would support tourism and jobs.
In his speech, Mr Zeman joked that it had taken the government 30 years to come up with a viable, long-term plan for Ocean Park. At the rate that our marine environment is being destroyed and our fish stocks pillaged, we don't have the luxury of waiting 30 years for the same attention to be paid to our seas: there won't be anything left to save. Despite the dire warnings of experts over the past eight years, the government still goes through consultation after consultation, committee after committee. Wake up!