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1. Nasa gives clear picture of smog from Guangdong

2. Which Wan Chai will it be - heritage district or air-conditioned glass box?

3. Government responds to Culture and Heritage Commission Report

4. Hung Hom Outline Zoning Plan approved

5. Approved Shau Kei Wan Outline Zoning Plan amended

6. Five approved Outline Zoning Plans referred back for amendment

1. Nasa gives clear picture of smog from Guangdong
CHEUNG CHI-FAI, SCMP 1 March 2004

On November 1 last year, as Hong Kong welcomed a visit by the nation's first man in space, Yang Liwei, a thick cloud of pollutants hung over the Pearl River Delta, covering a third of the region.

A day later, the city was hit by some of its worst air pollution last year as the smog moved south and blanketed much of the area.

These events were captured on film by a satellite operated by Nasa and the data was analysed by atmospheric scientist Alexis Lau Kai-hon, who heads an air pollution project at the Centre for Coastal and Atmospheric Research at the University of Science and Technology.

"We were a bit stunned by the pictures as we never thought that the area affected could be so big," said Professor Lau, who has released the satellite images for the first time.

"This will also put an end to the debate about where the pollutants impacting on us are generated," he said.

Hong Kong authorities have said most of the air pollutants came from Guangdong, while the mainland claimed the pollution was created locally.

Launched in 2000, Nasa's Earth Observation System has been taking a picture of the region every day. The images from space track the intensity of fine dust particles in the air and offer dramatic records of air pollution.

On November 1, 2003, a deep brown cloud was captured hanging over Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing at the heart of the Pearl delta region. At the time, Typhoon Melor near Taiwan was almost stationary, making dispersion of air pollutants impossible.

The next day, Melor moved slightly, causing the cloud to spread to Hong Kong, triggering one of the highest roadside pollution readings of 182 in Mongkok and 173 in Yuen Long the following day.

Professor Lau said the air pollutants had been accumulating since mid-October under a weak northerly monsoon, which led to a build-up over Dongguan and Zhaoqing.

"The centre of the Pearl River Delta is a favourable location for the concentration of pollutants as the area is surrounded by hundreds of factories and power plants."

The images also confirmed suspicions that power plants in Humen, Dongguan, were a major source of regional air pollutants.

Professor Lau said it would be better to locate Guangdong's industries in the west if the Pearl River Delta was to resolve its air pollution problem. "We must reconsider whether we continue to put our polluting industries on the eastern side of the delta," he said.

He said air pollutants became trapped in the centre of region under specific weather conditions. Most of these pollutants were believed to be generated by power plants and factories in Dongguan and Huizhou, and moved into the centre of the delta under easterly winds.

Professor Lau said rezoning land use was the key to tackling regional air pollution.

"It is a right track to develop the western Pearl River Delta and move the factories there, where pollutants can be dispersed easily with little impact," he said.

2. Which Wan Chai will it be - heritage district or air-conditioned glass box?
POLLY HUI, SCMP 1 March 2004

Town planners and community leaders have warned that Wan Chai risks being turned into an "air-conditioned glass box" resembling Admiralty within 20 years if the government continues to allow historic buildings to be knocked down in favour of skyscrapers.

They are also frustrated that the government has not produced an overall blueprint for consultation.

One of the chief concerns is that the character of Wan Chai - historically the district with the most diverse mix of social classes and businesses - will be lost in the push to redevelop the area between Johnston Road and Queens Road East.

The massive construction work already taking place in Tai Yuen Street and McGregor Street will be followed by the bulldozing of Lee Tung Street in two years. The street is known as Wedding Card Street because of the dozens of such shops that sprang up in the 1970s.

Chris Law, a veteran architect and convenor of the Urban Regeneration Taskforce, a non-government group dedicated to urban renewal, is concerned that the redevelopment projects will shatter the district's intricate business mix of design houses, architectural firms and printing workshops.

"With its proximity to the financial hub in Central, Wan Chai has a strategic role to play as it offers a convenient and inexpensive place to accommodate second-line businesses serving the needs of the big enterprises in Central," he said.

Many businesses and residents say the promised level of compensation from the Urban Renewal Authority will not allow them to stay in Wan Chai. "If the bulldozing goes on, Wan Chai will either become an air-conditioned glass box or another Admiralty in 15 or 20 years. Who needs more shopping malls in Hong Kong?" Mr Law said.

The architect also warned against ignoring the well-being of the underprivileged in the district.

"Many of the old residents who work as street cleaners and hawkers will be forced to live in the New Territories as they will not be able to afford living in the new housing in Wan Chai," he said.

Wong Wah-sang, an architect and chairman of Urban Watch, which has submitted several proposals for Wan Chai in recent years, said many historic buildings would be demolished or ruined in the redevelopment plans.

An example is the Wan Chai Market, which Mr Wong said was one of the few remaining markets built in the 1930s in the modernist, or Bauhaus, style. But the Town Planning Board announced this month that the market will be replaced by a 46-storey residential building.

Mr Wong also criticised the government for not putting in place a heritage policy that allowed for the preservation of a group of buildings or a whole street.

"The few blocks next to the Blue House, which has been singled out for preservation, should be renovated as many of them are traditional residential buildings with wooden ladders and antique-style balconies," Mr Wong said.

Mr Law and Mr Wong called for more community involvement.

But the Urban Renewal Authority has said the development plan in Tai Yuen Street has gone through several rounds of public consultation and received approval from the government and the Wan Chai District Council in the mid-1990s.

But council vice-chairman John Tse Wing-ling said his group had never been told about the overall planning for the old area in Wan Chai. "Each time we were asked to comment on small-scale projects that cover only a few blocks or a small area," he said.

3. Government responds to Culture and Heritage Commission Report
Hong Kong Government, 27 February 2004

The Government announced today (February 27) its response to more than 100 recommendations in the Culture and Heritage Commission Policy Recommendation Report.

"We are most grateful for the commission's unfailing efforts in the past three years in putting together a report with more than 100 recommendations," a spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau said.

It is the commission's vision to turn Hong Kong into an international cultural metropolis. The commission depicts a picture in which Hong Kong becomes a city where life is celebrated through cultural pursuit, a city where its people are enhanced by the arts, enlightened by different cultures and enriched by social diversity.

"The Government attaches great importance to this report, which will shape the long-term cultural development in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.

"Out of the 108 recommendations, we accept about 90 per cent, and have started work on half of those accepted. We will also follow up on the implementation of the remaining 10 per cent."

The recommendations covered overall policies as well as implementation strategies.

"We recognise and accept the six strategies put forward by the commission, namely 'people-oriented' approach, 'pluralism', 'freedom of expression and protection of intellectual property', 'holistic approach', 'partnership' and 'community-driven' principle," the spokesman said.

On areas that have considerable support from the community, such as promotion of culture and arts education, promotion of creative industries through heritage conservation and cultural exchange, the Government has implemented some specific work plans to respond to the policy proposals listed in the report.

"We agree that recommendations on resource deployment and an institutional framework should respond to, and affirm, the six strategies put forward by the commission. We recognise that resources have been skewed towards the performing arts in the past. On the premise that the long-term development of the performing arts will not be affected, we will gradually deploy more resources to the following five areas: heritage conservation, libraries, museums, promotion at district level and raising professional standards," the spokesman said.

"The commission has set out the direction for the long-term development of the cultural institutional framework. We will carefully examine and give due consideration to all relevant factors, including protection of the public's cultural rights, impact on the cultural scene, quality and continuity of public cultural service, retention of cultural professionals, cost effectiveness, the interests and legitimate rights of staff, as well as public views.

"The Government has been managing most of the cultural facilities for historical reasons. We agree that we should strengthen the involvement of the community in the management of public cultural facilities to forge partnership with the community. We will set up a Libraries Advisory Committee, Museums Advisory Committee and Performing Arts Advisory Committee as soon as practicable to help the Government implement the recommendations.

"We will follow up on the implementation of the policy recommendations, which serve as an important reference for Hong Kong's cultural development."

Established in April 2000, the Culture and Heritage Commission is responsible for advising the Government on policies and funding priorities for culture and the arts. In April 2003, the commission submitted the Policy Recommendation Report.

When the Report was received, the Government was embroiled in dealing with the SARS outbreak. After the SARS crisis, the Home Affairs Bureau conducted a detailed study of the recommendations in the report. The bureau also made reference to the consultancy reports commissioned by the Government on performing arts venues, libraries and museums, which were submitted to the bureau in early 2003, mid-2003 and late 2003 respectively after public consultations.

A booklet on the Government's responses has been published for distribution at District Offices of the Home Affairs Department. It can also be downloaded from the bureau's website at www.hab.gov.hk.

4. Hung Hom Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 27 February 2004

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the Hung Hom Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within the Hung Hom area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (February 27).

The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 145 hectares, is bounded by Ngan Hon Street to the north; Chatham Road North and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) Hung Hom Station to the west; Kai Tak (South) new development area to the east; and Victoria Harbour to the south.

The existing built-up areas within the Hung Hom area are characterized by a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial uses, while the Reclamation Area serves to provide land for the extension of hotel/office developments from Tsim Sha Tsui East, residential developments, open space and public facilities.

About 6.4 hectares of land zoned "Commercial" ("C") covers the existing commercial developments such as Hung Hom Commercial Centre, Peninsula Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Harbourfront and Harbour Plaza, and the proposed commercial developments at Cheong Tung Road and on the Reclamation Area.

The Whampoa Garden, a site at the junction of Hung Luen Road and Kin Wan Street, as well as two sites at the junction of Cheong Hang Road and Winslow Street covering about 22.1 hectares of land are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA") for comprehensive developments.

About 26.9 hectares of land, covering nearly all the existing residential developments in Hung Hom as well as the residential sites on the Reclamation Area, is zoned "Residential (Group A)" ("R(A)"). Royal Peninsula and Laguna Verde are zoned "Residential (Group B)" ("R(B)") covering about 6.6 hectares of land.

To serve the needs of the local and district population, about 11.5 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC"). Examples of the major existing facilities are the fire station at Fat Kwong Street, the clinic at Station Lane, the Tai Wan Shan swimming pool complex, and the market complex at the junction of Ma Tau Wai Road and Dyer Avenue. Major proposed facilities include schools and the Government buildings at Chatham Road North and Bailey Street.

In addition, about 14 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" ("O") for active and passive recreational uses.

About 15.8 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") for specific uses, such as funeral parlour/depot, public mortuary, Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation freight yard and the Metropolis above, ferry piers and sewage treatment plant. About 7.4 hectares of land under the "OU" zoning is intended for "Business" uses where a mix of non-polluting industrial, office and other commercial uses are permitted.

The approved Hung Hom OZP No. S/K9/18 is available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Kowloon District Planning Office, the Kowloon City District Office and the Yau Tsim Mong District Office.

Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The plan can be seen on the Town Planning Board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb.

5. Approved Shau Kei Wan Outline Zoning Plan amended
Hong Kong Government, 27 February 2004

The Town Planning Board today (February 27) announced amendments to the approved Shau Kei Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The amendments involve rezoning various sites on both sides of Shau Kei Wan Road and Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, and between Mong Lung Street and Aldrich Street from "Commercial/Residential" to "Residential (Group A)" ("R(A)"); rezoning various areas at Shau Kei Wan foothills to reflect the existing land uses upon completion of public housing developments; rezoning a strip of land on Nam On Street from "Government, Institution or Community" and "Commercial/Residential" to "Open Space"; and rezoning a site between Tai On Street and Holy Cross Path from "Government, Institution or Community" to "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Residential cum Commercial and Community Facilities".

In connection with the above amendments, the development restrictions for the "R(A)" and "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Business" zones were incorporated into the Remarks of the Notes to specify the maximum development intensities of the relevant zones.

In addition, the Notes for the "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Residential cum Commercial and Community Facilities" zone have been included and the Notes for "Commercial/Residential" zone have been deleted.

Amendments have also been made to revise the Notes of the OZP to follow a revised set of Master Schedule of Notes (MSN) to Statutory Plans endorsed by the Board. Under the revised MSN, various measures including broad use terms have been introduced to provide greater flexibility for change of use and reduce the need for planning application.

The general provisions under the covering Notes and the user schedules for various land use zones have been revised to expand the scope of uses that are always permitted. The planning intention for various zones has been incorporated in the Notes to form part of the plan.

The draft Shau Kei Wan OZP No. S/H9/13 incorporating the above amendments is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the following locations:

* Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point;

* Hong Kong District Planning Office, 14th Floor, North Point Government Offices; and

* Eastern District Office, 11th Floor, Eastern Law Courts Building, 29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho.

Any person affected by the amendments can submit a written objection to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before April 27, 2004.

Copies of the draft OZP are available for sale at Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic version of the plan can be seen on the Town Planning Board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb.

6. Five approved Outline Zoning Plans referred back for amendment
Hong Kong Government, 27 February 2004

The Chief Executive in Council has referred five approved Outline Zoning Plans (OZP) to the Town Planning Board for amendment.

The five approved OZPs are as follows:

* Kam Tin North OZP No. S/YL-KTN/3;

* Lamma Island OZP No. S/I-LI/4;

* Yuen Long OZP No. S/YL/12;

* Tseng Lan Shue OZP No. S/SK-TLS/5; and

* Ma Wan OZP No. S/I-MWI/9.

Amendments to the above OZPs are necessary to reflect the latest planning proposals in their respective areas. They were last approved by the Chief Executive in Council between February 2000 and May 2003.

The amended OZPs incorporating the amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.