Why Does Hong Kong Have Hundreds of Kilometres of Railings and Barriers? What Are They Actually For?

I’ve never quite understood why Hong Kong insists on fencing off the public at every possible opportunity. Barriers line pavements, walkways, and especially where there might be the slightest chance of interaction between a pedestrian and a vehicle, ledge or slope.

It seems often they also offer no real protection for pedestrians. If it is a belief cars are constantly trying to mount pavements and park; if so start fining and towing them away? Is it an attempt to block access to land, same move, set up a contract towing system. Or is it simply over-engineering, because someone thought it’s a good idea and then got carried away?

This isn’t just a New Territories issue. Metal by the mile clutters our cityscape as well as our countryside, it inconveniences pedestrians and blights views, to say nothing of the maintenance budget.

Perhaps we can try to just reduce some of this, a bit at least; there’s got to be someone who can say “enough” and who can safely save us a few million by doing so.

If you need specific input regarding a strategic Hong Kong challenge or related legal matters in the HKSAR you can always DM me and check out my profile at https://www.ajhalkes.com

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