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1. Start made on Olympic equestrian sites

2. Developer applications piling up, tycoon warns

1. Start made on Olympic equestrian sites
QUINTON CHAN , SCMP 27 February 2006

Construction work for the 2008 Olympic Games equestrian events gets under way
at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. Picture by Martin Chan

Work on constructing equestrian facilities for the 2008 Olympics has started in Fanling, and the government will this week announce the launch of a company to organise the event.

It is understood the equestrian company was registered with the Company Registry on February 15. An office will be set up in Wan Chai and up to 80 full-time staff will be hired to prepare for the Games events. The company will operate until the end of 2008.

A government source said the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Bocog) was expected to inject between $300 million and $500 million for the company's operation. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is to spend another $800 million to construct the games venues in Sha Tin and Fanling.

It is understood that former secretary for home affairs Lam Woon-kwong will be appointed as the company's chief executive.

The company's board of directors will be chaired by Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping, with the bureau's permanent secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong president Timothy Fok Tsun-ting as the vice-chairmen.

Other members include representatives of Bocog, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, the Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Sports Institute and the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The government source said their next target was to prepare for a trial run in August next year. Several dozen horses and riders will arrive in the city to test the cross-country course in Fanling.

"We are running against time. We have to prepare for the quarantine measures, accommodation for athletes, security, transport and medical services," he said.

The source said Hong Kong and Beijing were still discussing ticket pricing.

"But judging from experience in Athens and Sydney, tickets should cost a few hundred dollars each," he said.

Under the plan, three phases of the dressage and show jumping events will be held in the main arena at Sha Tin racecourse, while the cross-country race will be held at the Hong Kong Golf Club and Beas River Country Club. Both sites will be able to hold capacity crowds of 20,000.

Work on the 5.7km cross-country course started in Fanling two weeks ago.

New grass will be planted and barriers set up for the race. Cooling systems will be installed on the route to ensure that horses do not overheat in the humid weather in August.

2. Developer applications piling up, tycoon warns
FOSTER WONG , SCMP 27 February 2006

Property tycoon Cheng Yu-tung yesterday lashed out at the government for dragging its feet in approving developers' applications after the controversy over the Grand Promenade project in Sai Wan Ho.

Mr Cheng, chairman of New World Development, said: "Ever since the Grand Promenade saga, government officials act like their hands and legs are tied up and don't dare approve any application and plans submitted by developers.

"As a result, developers' applications are piling up one after another and their processing time is getting longer and longer accordingly," he said.

"This is an obstacle for developers."

Mr Cheng said he and other developers had sent a letter to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen to express their concerns but had not received a reply.

The Grand Promenade controversy unfolded in November when an Audit Commission report found that a decision by former buildings chief Leung Chin-man - made in the face of objections by the Lands Department - enabled Henderson Land to double the number of flats on the site and rake in an estimated $3.23 billion for an additional premium of just $6 million.

Mr Cheng also said that New World was interested in the West Kowloon Cultural District project and added that the proposed consultation committee looking into the scheme should not include developers in order to maintain its fairness.