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1. Road access project to Sai Kung village cancelled

2. KCRC re-invites expressions of interests for Tuen Mun property development project

1. Road access project to Sai Kung village cancelled
Doug Crets, SCMP 18 April 2006

A rural road project in Ma Nam Wat has been cancelled by the government after conservationists and villagers attempted to start a discussion about alternatives to the development, a source said.

The project was meant to widen a road and bring vehicular access to the Sai Kung village, which has none at present. A long set of steps connects it to a main road.

The district offices in Sai Kung sent out a notice Saturday confirming the cancellation of the project, which would have seen village house prices rise.

The project would have made it easier for police and emergency vehicles to enter the village, where some elderly people live, as well as a few parents expecting babies.

The government missive to protesters is short and does not elaborate on the cancellation.

But a source close to the project said worries about a public furor were at least partially behind the decision to cancel the project.

As conservationists alerted the public last month that the road works would pass through a "site of special scientific interest" in the Ma On Shan country park and potentially damage the sensitive site, more than a hundred people sent complaints about the plan to the Sai Kung district offices, a source said.

"I understand that you have called the Sai Kung District Lands Office on [March 6] expressing your objection to the proposed works at Ma Nam Wat," reads the statement signed by Constance Choy, assistant district officer for Sai Kung's Home Affairs office.

"Please be informed that we have further reviewed the matter.

"Having considered the possible environmental impact, technical feasibility and the public views, we have decided not to proceed further with the proposed project."

In the end, what was seen as a possible process to discuss alternatives led to the failing of a project and fewer chances for indigenous villagers to engage in a community discussion about sustainable development, said Judy Love-Eastham, who edits Explore Sai Kung, a local newsletter.

"It's seen as black and white. Either you are for, or you are against. I think that both sides think that the other is going to be adamantly against [their suggestions], so they are not going to compromise," Love-Eastham said.

"That's the biggest problem - it seems to be for or against, and there doesn't seem to be any movement toward dialogue."

The next time the project comes around, Love-Eastham said she hopes that a mechanism can be put into place that keeps the discussion from being reactionary.

"I really want to try hard to make that happen," she said.

Members of the Sai Kung district office and the district's home affairs offices were not immediately available for comment.

2. KCRC re-invites expressions of interests for Tuen Mun property development project
KCRC Press Release, 18 April 2006

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) will re-invite expressions of interest for its Tuen Mun property development project from developers / consortia on 21 April 2006.

Mr. Daniel Lam, KCRC’s Property Director said, “The project received one tender at the close of submission on 25 November 2005 when we first put it on tender. After careful review, the Board of Directors of the Tuen Mun Property Development Limited decided not to award the project but to invite expressions of interest again.

“After a lapse of about 9 months since we last invited expressions of interest for the project, there are possible new interests from the market.

“Developers from the original tender shortlist are however not required to re-submit their expressions of interest. They just need to provide us with an update.

“The Corporation proposes to develop the site in two phases under a single joint venture. But we shall, through this exercise, invite developers and consortia to express their preference for the split of payment of land premium, i.e. in one go or two phases,” Mr. Lam added.

Occupying an area of about 2.65 hectares, the project has an approximate gross floor area of 144,512 m 2, comprising 119,512 m 2 for residential use and 25,000 m 2 for retail purposes.

The development proposal comprises seven residential towers housing 1,924 flats atop a podium containing a retail centre, carparks, Park and Ride facilities and a station entrance plus a permanent Public Transport Interchange on the ground floor.

According to the current programme, the tender for the project will be awarded in the 2nd quarter of 2006, and the development be completed by 2013.