1 Three height zones for cultural district floated
Helen Wu, SCMP 14 March 2008
A proposal would divide the waterfront land earmarked for the West Kowloon Cultural District into three zones, with height restrictions of 50 metres, 70 metres and 100 metres, a Town Planning Board document revealed yesterday.
The building restrictions have been imposed partly to preserve the continuing ridgeline of Lion Rock and the view of neighbouring hills from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park in Sheung Wan and the Star Ferry Pier in Central.
According to a proposal by the Planning Department, the tallest buildings of 100 metres - about 30 storeys - at most can be erected at the tip of the headland. A maximum height of 70 metres is set for the area east of the site - bounded by the Austin Road West and Canton Road - while 50 metres is imposed for the remaining piece of land to the northwest of the site, which is closer to the New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter.
The Planning Department said the arrangement was designed to avoid a wall effect and enhance the view from the harbour.
Kim Chan Kim-on, vice-president of the Institute of Planners, said the gradation of height should descend from the hinterland on the east to the headland. "The lowest buildings should be found at the headland, but now it is zoned for the tallest buildings," he said, adding that the 100 metre area was most likely where residential areas are located.
He also said the division of zones was strange as it did not seem to fit the neighbourhood.
"The angles in which the development lines are drawn are too acute. It may block the existing visual corridor looking from residential developments near Sorrento."
The development perimeters for the cultural district will be discussed in a Town Planning Board meeting today. It will be available for public inspection for three weeks.
It has been suggested that a development plan that indicates the proposed land use and location be formulated by a statutory body that supervises the project.
2 Four approved Outline Zoning Plans referred back for amendment
Hong Kong Government, 14 March 2008
The Town Planning Board announced today (March 14) that the Chief Executive in Council had referred the approved Ma On Shan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), the approved Shap Sz Heung OZP, the approved Lung Yeuk Tau and Kwan Tei South OZP and the approved Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling OZP back to the board for amendment.
Amendments to these approved OZPs are necessary to incorporate the latest land use proposals.
Each OZP incorporating the respective amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the Town Planning Ordinance.
The Ma On Shan OZP and the Shap Sz Heung OZP were last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in October and December, 2004, respectively, while the Lung Yeuk Tau and Kwan Tei South OZP and the Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling OZP were last approved in October, 2006.
3 Infrastructure works for Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill Site gazetted
Hong Kong Government, 14 March 2008
The Government today (March 14) published a notice in the Gazette on infrastructure works for Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill Site (Phase I), proposing road works be carried out at Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill Site and Tseung Kwan O Town Centre South.
The proposed works include constructing sections of footpaths and cycle tracks, both of approximately 1,520 metres long connecting Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill Site and Tseung Kwan O Town Centre South; constructing a combined pedestrian and cycle bridge of approximately 240m long with an associated lift across Eastern Channel and ancillary works including drainage and utility works; and constructing retaining walls as well as cycle parking areas.
Some sections of the existing roads/tracks will be temporarily or permanently closed and demolished.
The proposed works are required to provide infrastructure works for recreational development at Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill Site and to improve its linkage with adjacent areas.
The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
(i) Central and Western District Office, Public Enquiry Service Centre, Unit 5, Ground Floor, The Center, 99 Queen's Road Central;
(ii) Sai Kung District Office, Tseung Kwan O Sub-office, Public Enquiry Service Centre, 1/F, King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre, King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O ; and
(iii) District Lands Office, Sai Kung, 3rd Floor, Sai Kung Government Offices, 34 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung.
Any person who wishes to object to the proposed works or the use, or both, should write to the Secretary for Transport and Housing, 16th Floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong, on or before May 13.
