Will Po Lo Che Road shelters be demolished?

^{One of the threatened shelters on Po Lo Che Road}

Dear Editor,

Po Lo Che Road, originally constructed as a jeep track by the British, is a single track road with passing bays leading from Hiram’s Highway opposite the fire station to a point on the river above Lung Mei village.

It provides vehicle access to many villages including Po Lo Che, Pak Kong Au, Tan Cheung, Kap Pin Long, Nam Shan and Kak Hang Tun and provides access for walkers to the Maclehose Trail and Ma On Shan country park.

As a convenience to visitors and residents alike, the government decades ago installed three functional and attractive shelters along the road – at Tan Cheung Road, near Keng Pa Ha village and at Kak Hang Tun Road (pictured).

Now in its wisdom, apparently unaware of the maxim “If It Aint Broke, Don’t Fix It”, the district office, without any warning or consultation, has decided to close all three for what they will presumably call “improvement works” (a la Hiram’s Highway Improvement works, now in their third year and still not complete….).

Now IF these improvement works, if that is what they are, result in seating for weary walkers and elderly minibus patrons, they are to be applauded but judging by the continuing non-provision of seating at most bus stops, I am sceptical of the outcome.

In the meantime, long requested white line painting on Tan Cheung and Po Lo Che roads which could prevent accidents and senseless traffic jams of the like experienced a week ago are still in someone’s pending tray.

Po Lo Che Resident