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looking for. 1. Government meets interested groups on Tamar project
2. Dickson Construction fined for wage offences
3. Draft Mong Kok Outline Zoning Plan approved
4. Draft Chek Lap Kok Outline Zoning Plan approved
5. Approved Yau Ma Tei Outline Zoning Plan referred back for amendment
1. Government meets interested groups on Tamar project
Hong Kong Government, 19 May 2006
The Director of Administration, Ms Elizabeth Tse and representatives from the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, Architectural Services Department, Transport Department, Environmental Protection Department and Planning Department today (May 19) discussed the Tamar development project with 24 groups and individuals.
"We have met interested parties on many occasions since the relaunch of the project in October 2005. Today's meeting enables us to engage the interested parties in a face-to-face dialogue," a spokesman for the Administration Wing said.
"Those at the meeting included representatives from the construction industry, District Council, professional institutes and environmental bodies.
"The government team explained that in response to public feedback, the government had already opted to reduce the office space requirements by 10 per cent compared with the 2003 proposal, and introduced a '20 per cent building-free zone under the ridgeline' requirement to preserve the ridgeline and maintain an open view to and from Victoria Harbour," he said.
"The two-hectare public open space at Tamar, coupled with the future waterfront promenade for Central Reclamation III, would provide a total of 10.8 hectares of public open space, an area larger than Hong Kong Park ," he added.
At the meeting, some groups also commented on the planning of the new Central waterfront, although it is not part of the Tamar project. A Planning Department representative took the opportunity to explain the vision, planning and urban design concepts for the area.
The spokesman said the views received on the Tamar project were "rather diverse". "Some urged the government to press ahead with the project in view of the unemployment situation within the construction sector and the fact that many jobs would be created by the project. Discussions had gone on for too long; it was time to act.
"Others questioned the justification and urgency for the Tamar project, and its related environmental and traffic impacts on the district," he said.
In response, the government team stressed that the Tamar project would be designed to bring the public closer to the administration and the legislature. At least half of the site would be set aside as open space.
The Central Government Complex and the Legislative Council Complex would be a low-intensity office development and the project would have no significant long-term environmental and traffic implications.
The government further confirmed that it would stipulate design requirements making the Tamar project as accessible, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient as possible in the tender document.
hose present generally welcomed the government's decision to display the models of the tender designs to the public so that the Special Selection Board could take into account public views when evaluating the tenders.
2. Dickson Construction fined for wage offences
Hong Kong Government, 19 May 2006
Dickson Construction Company Limited was fined $114,000 for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (May 19). The prosecution was taken out by the Labour Department.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said employers had a statutory responsibility to pay wages on time in accordance with the Employment Ordinance. "The Labour Department conducted an investigation earlier about suspected wage offences involving Dickson Construction Company Limited," he said.
"Evidence showed that the company failed to pay wages to its employees wilfully and without reasonable excuse within the statutory time limit. Thus, the Labour Department prosecuted the employer for breaching the wage provisions in the Employment Ordinance.
"The Labour Department takes a serious view of wage defaults. In addition to raising the maximum penalty of wage offences, we will continue with our inspection and vigorous enforcement.
"Should there be sufficient evidence, we will certainly prosecute the offender so as to protect the rights and benefits of employees. Employers should not defy the law," he said.
A total of 141 summonses for wage offences in the construction industry resulted in convictions last year, up 22% over the figure of 116 for the previous year. In the first four months of this year, 63 convictions against wage offences were secured in the construction sector, up 13% over 56 in the same period last year.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period and upon termination of employment must be paid as soon as practicable within seven days. Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse commits an offence. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The spokesman urged employees who were owed wages to call the department's complaints hotline on 2815 2200 immediately.
3. Draft Mong Kok Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 19 May 2006
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Mong Kok Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Mong Kok area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (May 19).
The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 147 hectares, is located in West Kowloon .
A total area of 42.3 hectares is zoned "Residential (Group A)" for high-density residential developments. About 2.6 hectares of land in the Tai Kok Tsui area is zoned "Residential (Group E)" to encourage the phasing out of existing industrial uses through redevelopment for residential purpose.
An area of 13.8 hectares is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" (GIC) for the development of Government uses and other community facilities. Major existing facilities within this zone include the Mong Kok Stadium, Queen Elizabeth II Youth Centre, Mong Kok District Police Headquarters, the Kowloon depot of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and a Government complex at Fuk Tsun Street .
A total of 10.6 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU"). They include the "OU(Business)" zone and other "OU" sites earmarked for the funeral parlour at Maple Street, five petrol filling stations, the land for the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR), a commercial/office/hotel development at the KCR Mong Kok Station, the Lui Seng Chun building, and a site at Sai Yee Street zoned for the development of a multi-storey car/lorry park.
An area of 7.9 hectares is zoned "Commercial" for commercial developments. This zoning mainly covers sites on both sides of Nathan Road and a commercial cum multi-storey car/lorry park development i.e. New Kowloon Plaza.
About 8.6 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" to provide active and passive recreational uses. Major existing open spaces include the Boundary Street Sports Ground, Macpherson Playground, Lok Kwan Street Park and the playgrounds at Willow Street , Anchor Street , Tong Mi Road/Canton Road , Mong Kok Road , Thistle Street and Sai Yee Street .
A site of 0.04 hectare is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" to preserve the existing Hung Shing Temple compound and the mature tree on the site while enabling redevelopment of the site for residential/commercial uses.
Two urban renewal redevelopment schemes, with about two hectares of land, are designated within the Area. The Argyle Street/Shanghai Street Development Scheme has been completed which is a commercial/office/hotel development comprising a public open space, a neighbourhood community centre, a cooked food centre and a public light bus terminus. The Cherry Street Development Scheme is planned for a commercial/residential development with GIC facilities.
The approved Mong Kok OZP No. S/K3/24 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of Planning Department, the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office, and the Yau Tsim Mong District Office.
Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website ( www.info.gov.hk/tpb ).
4. Draft Chek Lap Kok Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 19 May 2006
The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Chek Lap Kok Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the airport island at Chek Lap Kok," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (May 19).
The Planning Scheme Area of the OZP, covering about 1,273 hectares, is located off the north shore of Lantau Island .
A total area of 1,077.8 hectares is zoned "Other Specified Uses" for specific uses, including "Airport" (880.9 hectares), "Airport Service Area" (138 hectares), " Business Park " (44.7 hectares), and "Pier" (14.2 hectares).
An area of 118.4 hectares is zoned "Commercial" to provide an aesthetically pleasant working environment for airport-related enterprises and other business activities that require prominent and accessible locations on the airport island.
Some 12.3 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to provide accommodation for a range of government and community facilities to support the airport operation and serve the needs of other developments on the airport island.
About 21.3 hectares of land is zoned "Green Belt" to preserve the existing natural landscape at the knoll in the south-eastern fringe of the area. It provides a visual and environmental buffer between the airport development and the new town development in Tung Chung.
A narrow strip of land of 3.1 hectares along the eastern coast of the area is zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to preserve the natural coastal landscape.
The approved Chek Lap Kok OZP No. S/I-CLK/10 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung & Islands District Planning Office, the Islands District Office and its Mui Wo Sub-office and Tung Chung Sub-office.
Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website at www.info.gov.hk/tpb .
5. Approved Yau Ma Tei Outline Zoning Plan referred back for amendment
Hong Kong Government, 19 May 2006
The Town Planning Board announced today (May 19) that the Chief Executive in Council had referred the approved Yau Ma Tei Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to the Town Planning Board for amendment.
Amendments to the approved OZP are necessary to reflect the latest planning proposals in the Yau Ma Tei area.
The OZP incorporating the amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.
The OZP was last approved by the Chief Executive in Council on November 2, 2004 .
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