The consortium that owns the International Finance Centre complex in Central Hong Kong has demanded the government abandon plans for two commercial medium-rise developments in front of its property and instead turn the sites into open space.

But opponents say the two blocks are unlikely to block public views of the harbour and the open space proposal will waste valuable land in the central business district.

Backed by 22,000 signatures collected in the IFC mall over the past two months, the IFC Development, a joint venture by Sun Hung Kai Properties, Henderson Land Development and Hong Kong and China Gas, announced its open space proposal at a press conference yesterday.

South China Morning Post