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1. 15 approved Outline Zoning Plans amended

2. Small fry priced out of West Rail site

1. 15 approved Outline Zoning Plans amended
Hong Kong Government, 29 May 2005

The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (April 29) announced amendments to 15 approved Outline Zoning Plans (OZPs).

The amendments involve the revision to or incorporation of the Remarks of the Notes for the "Agriculture" zone to stipulate that planning permission from the Board is required for any filling of land, except those relating to genuine agricultural practice including the laying of soil not exceeding 1.2m in thickness for cultivation and construction of agricultural structures with prior written approval from the Lands Department.  

With this provision incorporated, land filling activities within the "Agriculture" zone will be subject to statutory planning control and enforcement action under the Town Planning Ordinance can be taken against any unauthorised land filling activities. Opportunity is also taken to refine the similar clauses in the Remarks of the Notes for the relevant zones for consistency in wording.

The Notes for the "Conservation Area" and/or "Coastal Protection Area" zones on some of these OZPs are also slightly revised by adding "(other than Plant Nursery)" after "Agriculture Use" in Column 1.

The 15 OZPs amended are as follows:

- Draft Pak Kong and Sha Kok Mei OZP No. S/SK-PK/9;

- Draft Fu Tei Au and Sha Ling OZP No. S/NE-FTA/8;

- Draft Hung Lung Hang OZP No. S/NE-HLH/5;

- Draft Hok Tau OZP No. S/NE-HT/3;

- Draft Lung Yeuk Tau and Kwan Tei South OZP No. S/NE-LYT/10;

- Draft Man Uk Pin OZP No. S/NE-MUP/9;

- Draft Ping Kong OZP No. S/NE-PK/9;

- Draft Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling OZP No. S/NE-TKL/10;

- Draft Wo Keng Shan OZP No. S/NE-WKS/6;

- Draft Kwun Yam Shan and Fa Sam Hang OZP No. S/ST-KYS/9;

- Draft Pat Heung OZP No. S/YL-PH/9;

- Draft Sheung Pak Nai and Ha Pak Nai OZP No. S/YL-PN/7;

- Draft Shek Kong OZP No. S/YL-SK/7;

- Draft Luk Keng and Wo Hang OZP No. S/NE-LK/9; and

- Draft Mui Wo Fringe OZP No. S/I-MWF/6.

The 15 draft OZPs incorporating the amendments are available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, 15/F North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point and the relevant District Planning Offices, District Offices and/or Rural Committee Offices.

Anyone affected by the amendments can submit a written objection to the Secretary of the Board on or before June 29, 2005.

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

2. Small fry priced out of West Rail site
ERNEST KONG , SCMP 30 April 2005

Small developers are staying away from the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp's (KCRC) largest residential project this year, leaving it up to the big guns to fight it out for the rare prominent urban site.

Due to the huge investment amount, estimated to be more than $18 billion, even some of the prominent developers have formed consortiums to split the development risk and funding costs.

Eight expressions of interest had been submitted for the project at Nam Cheong Station on the West Rail line, two of them by consortiums, said KCRC director of property Daniel Lam-chun.

One of the consortiums involves Sino Land, Chinese Estates Holdings and K Wah International while the other sees New World Development teaming up with companies from the Wheelock Group.

Other interested developers include Cheung Kong (Holdings), Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hang Lung Properties, Henderson Land Development, Kerry Properties and Citic Pacific.

"We are very pleased with the response, which reflects the market confidence in the potential of the site," said Mr Lam.

Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu, a director with Wharf Estate Development, said the firm had joined a consortium due to the size of the project.

"We would like to save up more capital for upcoming projects along two railways while teaming up with New World will also enhance our chances of winning," said Mr Wong.

Nam Cheong, which will be developed in two phases, comprises 10 high-rise residential towers, nine sea-facing low-rise residential blocks and a 39-storey office tower with a retail podium. It will generate 3.97 million square feet of residential space and about 745,945 sq ft of commercial space.

The project is among five KCRC developments up for tender this year. The others are at Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan West stations on the West Rail line.