Site not being easily accessible

• Some POSPDs (e.g. Cheong Shing Garden located at Tanner Garden, North Point) are located on podiums high above the ground level, which implies that visitors need to climb long staircases or take passenger lifts in order to reach the sites.

• POSPD on 7/F of Castello, Sha Tin, is located on the podium of a parking area, making the entrance hidden and thus non-visible from the outside.

• POSPD at Soka Gakkai International of Hong Kong Cultural and Recreational Centre, Peng Chau is rarely visited by the public due to its remote location as far away from the main street.

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Lack of directional signage ​

• Very few POSPDs actually provide clear instructions and signages. Without informative and directional signages, the public is not capable of reaching certain POSPDs, and worse, they are deprived of the usage of such POSPDs as they had no idea of their existence.

• Example: Podium garden at Tuen Mun Town Plaza (Phase I), Tuen Mun

  • ​Intended visitors can either take a passenger lift to the 4/F or simply take the stairs on 3/F of the mall to reach the POSPD.

  • Yet, there is not one single directory or signage indicating the existence and the way to such a garden, not even a single label in the passenger lift indicating the provision on 4/F.

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Lack of functioning barrier-free access

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• Without genuinely functional BFA, the accessibility of the disabled to these POSPDs is significantly jeopardized.

• Example: City Garden, North Point

  • ​There is one ramp with a sign of “wheel-chair users”.

  • However, the ramp sits on the inner part of the POSPD whereas two flights of stairs are observed at the entrance of the POSPD, which ironically manifests the futility of such a ramp.

Stringent surveillance

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• A survey by HKPSI revealed that around 15% of the POSPDs adopt a stringent management style as security guards intervene and restrict users from conducting prohibited activities.

• More precisely, some “overzealous” security guards even prevent users from sitting and/or lingering in the public area.

• Example: The Belcher's, Pok Fu Lam

  • The security guard prevented visitors from entering the POSPD and claimed that it is a private space.

  • ​Stringent surveillance limits the usage to the residents only.

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Short opening hour

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• As suggested by the “Design and Management Guidelines”, a POSPD is to provide public access for at least 13 hours on a daily basis. Yet, audit review discloses 6 POSPDs that operate less than 13 hours a day, ranging from 6 to 12 hours to be exact.

• The shortened opening hours are evidence of a reduction in public enjoyment which the general public is entitled to.

• Example: Sun Kwai Hing Gardens, Kwai Tsing

  • ​The POSPD operates for seven hours a day.

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Uninterrupted access not provided

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• POSPDs governed by land leases are generally required to provide uninterrupted public access.

• Referring to the Audit Review by the Development Bureau, during the Audit’s seven site visits from January to June 2014, POS 1 (the Audit Review does not specify the actual name of the subject POSPD) remained closed as the gate at the entrance was locked with a metal chain and a padlock.

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Lack of promotion

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• Audit survey by the Development Bureau in 2014 discovered that over half of the visitors to the major and popular public parks and gardens were not aware of the POSPDs located nearby.

• This implies a severe lack of promotion from both the government and private developers, resulting in POSPDs not being known and thus used by the public. 

• ​POSPDs are under private management and commercial activities might be allowed subject to application and subsequent approval from the Lands Department and/or the Buildings Department.

• Some developers “lease out” part of the POSPDs with a consideration in exchange for management fees as a source of income

• Examples:

  • ​Citibank Plaza, Central

    • The POSPD ​is found partially occupied by some outdoor seatings possibly placed there by the cafe nearby.

    •  Due to the rather long-term nature of the business, it is doubtful if the area dedicated to commercial activities remains below 10% (of the total area of the POSPD) throughout the duration of operation as no supervision from governmental authorities is deployed.

    • It is possible for commercial activities to take over the entire POSPD and alter the dynamics of the provision into more privatized and commercialized.

    • The public might mistake the POSPD as a private space and are thus deprived of their usage right.

  • Times Square, Causeway Bay

    • The POSPD ​is well known for its seasonal decorations, festive garnishes, promotional sets of popular motion pictures, and pop-up stores which typically attract lots of visitors. Some of these events are free, others are charged at a fee.

    • The developer is expected to receive a considerable sum of rent for leasing out such an area at a prime location, thus, all of the aforementioned events are considered commercial in nature.

    • ​Such commercial activities are indeed a double-edged sword. Undoubtedly, they attract tonnes of visitors to the POSPD, yet, to carry out entirely different activities, for instance, taking pictures and purchasing merchandise. To some extent, these commercial activities take up a certain area of the POSPD which is typically used by the public for rather passive activities.