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1. $1b Tai Kok Tsui project for tender

2. Building plans approved in March

1. $1b Tai Kok Tsui project for tender
The Standard 17 May 2004

Developers have been invited to bid for a HK$1 billion redevelopment project in Tai Kok Tsui - the third launched by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) this year.

The commercial and residential use site on Cherry Street covers an area of about 48,500 square feet.

The project, which will affect 420 households and 236 property owners, will provide a total of 56,392 sq ft of commercial/office area.

The residential area, measuring 357,394 sq ft in total, is expected to provide 606 flats upon completion of the project in 2008.

Homes for the elderly of about 11,800 sq ft and and some 19,000 sq ft of open space will also be provided.

Qualified parties will be shortlisted and invited to submit a formal tender, the URA said.

Submissions will close on May 28.

Developers responded overwhelmingly to the URA's last two tenders.

Last week, the authority said a total of 14 developers had submitted tenders for the HK$1 billion urban renewal project on Johnston Road, Wan Chai.

The project is expected to provide about 190,000 sq ft of residential floor area and about 28,000 sq ft of commercial retail area when completed in 2007.

The development, on completion, is expected to have a market value of about HK$1 billion.

Two consortia - one comprising Sino Land and Manhattan Garments (International) and the other comprising Chinese Estates Holdings and Chuang's Consortium International - have confirmed their bids for the Johnston Road redevelopment.

Last month, Sino Land outbid 13 developers for a HK$2 billion urban renewal project on Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan.

Construction is due to start shortly on a residential-and-commercial complex at the 77,824 sq ft site, which could generate a total gross floor area of up to 490,000 sq ft.

The project is expected to be completed in 2007.

2. Building plans approved in March
Hong Kong Government, 17 May 2004

The Buildings Department approved 22 building plans in March-- five on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, six were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, two were for commercial developments, two were for factory and industrial developments and 12 were for community services developments.

In the same month, consent was given for work to start on 18 building projects that, when completed, will provide 56,367 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 614 units, and 309,691 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

The department also issued 13 occupation permits -- four on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.

Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic uses were 70,269 square metres, involving 1,163 units, and 59,722 square metres for non-domestic use.

The declared cost of the new buildings completed in March totalled about $1.615 billion.

In addition, 12 demolition consents involving 12 building structures were issued.

The department received 1,740 complaints against unauthorised building works in March, and issued 3,793 removal orders on unauthorised works.