| News
Stories: |  |
Click-on these
handy "jump links" to quickly access the news item
you're looking
for. 1.
Draft Pak Shek Kok (East) Outline Zoning Plan approved
2.
Draft Kennedy Town & Mount Davis Outline Zoning Plan approved 3.
Draft Quarry Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved 4.
Approved Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling Outline Zoning Plan
amended 5.
Draft Tsuen Wan Outline Zoning Plan approved 6.
Draft Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau Outline Zoning Plan
approved 7.
Government to resume land in Yuen Long 8.
Draft Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun OZP amended 9.
Proposed road reconstruction and widening in Causeway
Bay 10.
Unions fear mass layoffs after housing bodies merge 11.
Housing revamp raises hope of faster clearance of
slums 12.
Disabled could staff new park, says group 13.
Fears rise for KCRC on land projects 14.
URA offers Tsuen Wan sweeteners
1. Draft Pak Shek Kok (East) Outline Zoning Plan approved The
Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Pak Shek Kok (East) Outline Zoning
Plan (OZP). "The approved OZP is to establish a statutory land use framework
to guide development and redevelopment in the Pak Shek Kok area," a spokesman
for the Town Planning Board (the Board) said today (June 21). The Planning Scheme
Area (the Area), covering about 70 hectares of land, is located along the waterfront
of Tolo Highway and is situated in the south-eastern part of Tai Po New Town and
to the north of Ma Liu Shui. Two sites in the southern part of Pak Shek Kok (East)
area are zoned "Other Specified Uses" designated for the Science Park
and sewage pumping station uses. The Science Park will be developed with an average
plot ratio of 2.5. The buildings within this area will be low-rise and less than
40 metres in height. The Science Park will provide about 16,500 jobs upon full
development. The proposed residential developments in the Area are zoned "Residential
(Group B)" ("R(B)") with four sub-areas for medium-density private
residential developments. In view of the environmental and infrastructural constraints,
as well as to ensure compatibility with the surrounding areas, developments within
each sub-zone are subject to specific development restrictions. Four sites are
zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC") in the
area. Three of them are reserved for the reprovisioning of the Marine Science
Laboratory of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a primary school, and the development
of an electricity substation together with a fire station cum ambulance depot.
The remaining site is reserved to meet future demand for GIC facilities. To provide
land for both active and passive recreational uses, a number of sites in the area
are zoned "Open Space", including a waterfront promenade. The approved
OZP No. S/PSK/7 is now available for public inspection at the Secretariat of the
Board; the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office; the Sha Tin District
Office; the Tai Po District Office; the Sha Tin Rural Committee and the Tai Po
Rural Committee. Copies of the draft Plan are available for sale at the Map Publications
Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic version of the plan is viewable
from the Town Planning Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
[Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 2.
Draft Kennedy Town & Mount Davis Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Kennedy Town & Mount Davis
Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). "The approved OZP is to establish a statutory
land use framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Kennedy Town
& Mount Davis area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board (the Board)
said today (June 21). The Planning Scheme Area (the Area), covering about 164
hectares of land, is located at the north-western corner of Hong Kong Island.
The Area is characterised by a mixture of land uses with its eastern part and
areas along Mount Davis Road mainly for residential use and the northern coast
mainly for industrial and cargo handling activities. The area bounded by Cadogan
Street, Kennedy Town New Praya, Davis Street and Catchick Street is zoned "Comprehensive
Development Area" ("CDA") for a comprehensive redevelopment to
be carried out by the Urban Renewal Authority for commercial/residential use with
some Government, institution or community facilities and public open space. A
site at Forbes Street is designated "CDA(1)" to form part of a comprehensive
residential development comprising this site, the adjacent Kwun Lung Lau and the
Lung Wah Street housing sites which are zoned "Residential (Group A)"
("R(A)") and "Residential (Group B)" ("R(B)") respectively.
Other "R(A)" sites include the Sai Wan Estate implemented by the Hong
Kong Housing Authority as well as some high-density private residential developments.
Areas zoned "R(B)" include Hill View Gardens, Belcher Gardens, several
residential developments along Mount Davis Road as well as the two planned "R(B)"
sites on the seaward side of Victoria Road. A site near the junction of Mount
Davis Road and Victoria Road is zoned "Residential (Group C)" ("R(C)").
Due to inadequate access for fire-fighting and the traffic and infrastructural
constraints, residential developments at Sands Street, Tai Pak Terrace, Li Po
Lung Path, Ching Lin Terrace and To Li Terrace with no direct vehicular access
are designated "R(C)1" and development will be restricted to residential
use only with a maximum plot ratio of five and a maximum building height of 12
storeys. Two industrial buildings and a piece of vacant land at Sai Ning Street
are zoned "Residential (Group E)" to encourage the phasing out of the
residual industrial uses. The existing Mount Davis Cottage Area located along
Victoria Road is zoned "Village Type Development" ("V"). Taking
advantage of the marine access, a site currently occupied by existing godowns
and wharf facilities along Sai Ning Street on the north-western coast is zoned
"Industrial". Other land uses zoned "Government, Institution or
Community" ("G/IC"), "Other Specified Uses" (5.91 hectares)
and "Open Space" are scattered in different parts of the Area. The rest
of the Area is zoned "Green Belt" ("GB"), which mainly comprises
the slopes at Mount Davis where the difficult topography prevents the use of the
area for intensive urban development or active recreational uses. The "GB"
and the "V" areas occupied by the Island West Refuse Transfer Station
cavern are designated as "GB(1)" and "V(1)" respectively.
Because of its deep vertical location, the station will not affect the surface
area. The approved OZP No. S/H1/12 is now available for public inspection at the
Secretariat of the Board, Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Central and
Western District Office. Copies of the draft Plan are available for sale at the
Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic version
of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
. [Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 3.
Draft Quarry Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Quarry Bay Outline Zoning Plan
(OZP). "The approved OZP is to establish a statutory land use framework to
guide development and redevelopment in the Quarry Bay area," a spokesman
for the Town Planning Board (the Board) said today (June 21). The Planning Scheme
Area (the Area) of the approved OZP, covering an area of about 207 hectares, is
bounded by the Victoria Harbour to the north and Tai Tam Country Park to the south.
The Area is characterised by a mixture of land uses. Commercial and residential
developments are concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the Area. Major
open spaces, industrial and waterfront-related facilities are found in the areas
in between the Island Eastern Corridor. A portion of Tai Tam Country Park is found
at the southern and eastern part of the Area. A total of 7.96 hectares of the
Area is zoned "Commercial" ("C"), which includes commercial
developments at the City Plaza and areas in the vicinity of the Quarry Bay, Tai
Koo and Sai Wan Ho Mass Transit Railway Stations. The industrial buildings on
Westland Road and Shipyard Lanes are zoned "C" to encourage redevelopment
into uses that would be more compatible with the surrounding residential/commercial
neighbourhood. The industrial buildings at Hoi Chak Street are also zoned "C"
to facilitate conversion to commercial uses. The area covered by the Taikoo Place
is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" which has been redeveloped
comprehensively into a major office centre. There is a site on the waterfront
zoned "Industrial" (0.2 hectare) for industrial-office purpose. The
majority of the built-up areas at Taikoo Shing, the residential developments at
Kornhill Garden, Lei King Wan, and areas along King's Road are zoned "Commercial/Residential".
Areas zoned "Residential (Group A)" include the existing residential
developments at Greig Road, Yau Man Street, Mount Parker Road, as well as the
public housing for the elderly and small households at Tai Hong Street and Lei
King Road. Areas zoned "Residential (Group B)" include the residential
developments at Nam Fung Sun Chuen and Sai Wan Terrace. Sites allocated for various
specific uses are zoned "Other Specified Uses", including the cargo
handling area on the waterfront and the Eastern Harbour Crossing Ventilation Building,
the two marine fuelling stations and two piers near Lei King Wan. The Sai Wan
Ho Ferry Concourse site at Lei King Wan is to be developed for residential purpose
incorporating a public transport terminus, commercial, social welfare and community
facilities. A portion of the Tai Tam Country Park in the southern and eastern
parts of the Area is zoned "Country Park". Areas located at the fringe
of the built-up areas including the "Woodside" on Mount Parker Road
are zoned "Green Belt". The approved OZP No. S/H21/16 is now available
for public inspection at the Secretariat of the Board, Hong Kong District Planning
Office and Eastern District Office. Copies of the draft Plan are available for
sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic
version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
[Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 4.
Approved Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling Outline Zoning Plan amended
The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (June 21) announced amendments to the
approved Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). Five areas, including
a strip of land at Wang Leng, an area to the south-west of Wang Leng, an area
to the south-west of Pak Hok Shan, a strip of land to the north-west of Kwan Tei
and near the San Wai Barracks; and an area near the junction of Road 1 and Sha
Tau Kok Road - Lung Yuek Tau section and to the south of Ng Tung River, are rezoned
from "Agriculture" ("AGR") to "Open Storage" ("OS")
to reflect the existing open storage use in the area. A site along Road 1 and
to the north of Ng Tung River is rezoned from "Comprehensive Development
Area" ("CDA") to "Residential (Group C)" ("R(C)").
An adjoining site along Road 1 and abutting Ng Tung River is rezoned from "AGR"
to "Green Belt" ("GB"). Opportunity is also taken to delete
the term 'Service Apartment' wherever it appears in the Notes with a view to avoiding
ambiguity of the term such that service apartment units developed as part of and/or
operated within a hotel establishment will be treated as 'Hotel'; otherwise, they
will be regarded as 'Flat' in land use terms. In addition, 'Social Welfare Facility'
is added under Column 2 of the Notes for the "GB" zone to allow flexibility
for such use and to be consistent with the provision under the urban OZPs. The
draft OZP No. S/NE-TKL/6 incorporating the amendment is now available for public
inspection until August 21, 2002 at the Secretariat of the Board, the Sha Tin,
Tai Po and North District Planning Office, the North District Office, the Ta Kwu
Ling District Rural Committee and the Fanling District Rural Committee. Any person
affected by the amendment may submit a written objection to the Secretary of the
Board, 15th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road on or before
August 21, 2002. Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at the Map Publications
Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic version of the plan is viewable
from the Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
[Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 5.
Draft Tsuen Wan Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Tsuen Wan Outline Zoning Plan
(OZP). A spokesman of the Town Planning Board (the Board) said today (June 21)
the approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development
and redevelopment within the Tsuen Wan Central and North areas. The Planning Scheme
Area (the Area), covering an area of about 771 hectares, is located at the southern
coast of the New Territories. A site to the west of Tsuen Kam Centre is zoned
"Commercial" to reflect the existing commercial/office development on
site and to facilitate commercial development in the long term. About 20 hectares
of land are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA")
to encourage phasing out of industrial activities which have become incompatible
with adjoining residential developments and to facilitate comprehensive commercial
and residential developments. About 54 hectares of land in Tsuen Wan Town Centre
are zoned "Commerical/Residential" to allow greater flexibility in combining
commercial with residential uses. A total of about 88 hectares of land is zoned
"Residential (Group A)" on the approved OZP. About 26 hectares of land
are zoned "Residential (Group B)" for lower density residential development.
Another four hectares of land are zoned "Residential (Group E)" to encourage
redevelopment of existing industrial buildings for residential uses. A total of
69 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" covering existing
villages and areas reserved for village expansion. Several sites, amounting to
about 73 hectares of land, are designated as "Government, Institution or
Community" to provide a wide range of Government, institution or community
facilities. A total of 155 hectares of land including the proposed promenade along
the waterfront of the future Tsuen Wan Bay Further Reclamation are zoned "Open
Space" to provide land for both active and passive recreational uses. About
10 hectares of land are zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU")
for specified uses including the Chai Wan Kok Ventilation Building, Mass Transit
Railway depot, petrol filling station and ferry piers. There are four sites zoned
"OU" annotated "Business" for employment uses allowing a mix
of commercial, office and non-polluting industrial uses to co-exist within new
developments. The "Green Belt" zone serves to establish the limits of
urban expansion of Tsuen Wan and makes provision for the retention of some existing
rural land uses and the conservation of prominent landscape features, scenic spots
and 'fung shui' areas. The approved OZP No. S/TW/16 is now available for public
inspection at the Secretariat of the Board, the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District
Planning Office and the Tsuen Wan District Office. Copies of the approved Plan
are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North
Point. The electronic version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's
website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
[Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 6.
Draft Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau Outline
Zoning Plan (OZP). "The approved OZP is to establish a statutory land use
framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau
area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board (the Board) said today (June
21). The Planning Scheme Area (the Area), covering an area of about 784 hectares,
is located at the southern part of Hong Kong Island. The Area is characterised
by a mixture of land uses with Tin Wan and Aberdeen areas mainly for commercial/residential
uses, the Wong Chuk Hang area currently for industrial uses, and Ap Lei Chau and
the area along Nam Long Shan Road mainly for residential uses and other specified
uses such as the Ocean Park. Most of the residential developments in the Area
are zoned "Residential (Group A)". An area at Island Road is zoned "Residential
(Group C)" in order to preserve the low-rise, low-density character and also
the public views and amenity of the area near the Ocean Park. Four sites in Tin
Wan, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau areas are zoned "Residential (Group E)"
("R(E)") to encourage the phasing out of existing residual industrial
uses in these areas and at the same time allow adequate planning control on new
residential development in order to address the industrial/residential interface
problems. The "R(E)" site at Ap Lei Chau Praya Road is designated as
"R(E)1". A maximum plot ratio of 5.0 is stipulated in the Notes to ensure
that the development intensity of the site would not overstrain the existing and
planned traffic capacities. Other private residential developments are zoned "Commercial/
Residential" ("C/R"). Industrial land at Tin Wan, the south-western
part of Ap Lei Chau, boatyards to the east of Ap Lei Chau Praya Road and areas
to the west of Shum Wan Road are zoned "Industrial". About 101 hectares
of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") to reserve
sites for special uses. The Wong Chuk Hang Industrial Area had been designated
for business uses under the "OU" zoning in order to allow flexibility
in the use of existing industrial and industrial-office buildings as well as in
the development of new buildings for both commercial and clean industrial uses.
Other "OU" zones include Ocean Park, the Chinese Permanent Cemetery,
a number of private sports and recreation clubs, a utility and operational headquarters
of Hong Kong Electric and a transit depot for Liquefied Petroleum Gas and oil
products on Ap Lei Chau, as well as a commercial development with multi-storey
public lorry park at Wong Chuk Hang Industrial area. To serve the local and district
needs, 102 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community",
and 13 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space". For the rest of the Area,
they are mainly conservation in nature with part of the Aberdeen Country Park
zoned "Country Park" and the western part of the Nam Fung Road zoned
"Site of Special Scientific Interest" in the north, and the coastal
area and Ap Lei Pai zoned "Coastal Protection Area" in the south. Besides,
a large portion of land located at the fringe of the existing and planned built-up
areas are zoned "Green Belt". The approved OZP No. S/H15/17 is now available
for public inspection at the Secretariat of the Board, the Hong Kong District
Planning Office and the Southern District Office. Copies of the Plan are available
for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic
version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
[Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 7.
Government to resume land in Yuen Long
The Government will resume 202 private lots in Yuen Long with a total area of
about 72 530 square metres in connection with the construction of the Yuen Long
Bypass Floodway. The Resumption Notice is published in the Gazette today (June
21). Of those lots, about 72,077 sq metres are on agricultural land and 452 sq.
metres are on building land. A Government spokesman said that flooding had been
a perennial problem in Yuen Long because of its low-lying topography and inadequate
drainage system. The problem had been exacerbated by the changes in land use since
the last decade which saw some lowland areas being filled for developments, he
said. The Yuen Long Bypass Floodway, which was expected to alleviate the flooding
problem in Yuen Long town and adjoining areas, would run along the south eastern
periphery of the town, he added. Ancillary landscaping and environmental impact
abatement works would also be implemented, he said. Construction works, to be
completed in three years' time, were scheduled to commence in November this year,
the spokesman said. [Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 8.
Draft Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun OZP amended
The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (June 21) announced amendments to the
draft Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). The amendments
mainly involve rezoning an area at Cha Kwo Ling Road from "Industrial"
("I"), "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC")
and "Road" to "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA")
and inclusion of the adjoining seabed area into the "CDA" zone to facilitate
a proposed comprehensive residential and commercial development. A public waterfront
promenade, schools and some community facilities are proposed as part of the development.
Besides, a site at the junction of Lei Yue Mun Road and King Yip Street is rezoned
from "I" to "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated
"Business" which is intended for general employment uses including non-polluting
industrial use, office and other commercial uses. A site to the immediate west
of the Eastern Harbour Crossing Ventilation Building is also rezoned from "G/IC"
to "Open Space" to facilitate the provision of the waterfront promenade,
which would link up with the proposed promenade in the South East Kowloon Development
area. In connection with the zoning amendments, the Notes for the "I"
zone are deleted, the Notes for the "OU" annotated "Business"
zone are added and the Notes for the "CDA" zone are amended. Besides,
the Notes for the "Commercial" zone are revised to permit "Educational
Institution" use within the zone. The draft OZP No. S/K15/15 incorporating
the amendments is now available for public inspection at the Secretariat of the
Board, the Kowloon District Planning Office and the Kwun Tong District Office.
Any person affected by the amendments may submit a written statement of objection
to the Secretary of the Board, 15th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333
Java Road on or before July 12, 2002. Copies of the draft Plan are available for
sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic
version of the plan is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
[Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 9.
Proposed road reconstruction and widening in Causeway Bay
The Government proposes to execute the following works to facilitate the reconstruction
of Causeway Bay Flyover and Associated Widening of Victoria Park Road and Reconstruction
of Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road between Marsh Road and Hing Fat Street:
* permanent closure and demolition of the existing single-lane Causeway Bay Flyover
and the adjoining footbridge and reconstruction of sections of the existing flyover
and footbridge into carriageways and amenity areas; * construction of a two-lane
flyover to replace the existing single-lane Causeway Bay Flyover; * reprovisioning
of a temporary footbridge with lifts on both sides of Victoria Park Road to replace
the footbridge adjoining to the existing single-lane Causeway Bay Flyover; * permanent
closure and temporary closure of sections of the existing carriageways, footpaths
and amenity areas; * widening of a section of Victoria Park Road westbound near
the Island Eastern Corridor: and * reconstruction of footpaths and rehabilitation
and reconstruction of carriageways within sections of Victoria Park Road and Gloucester
Road between Marsh Road and Hing Fat Street. A notice concerning the proposed
works is published in Gazette today (June 21). A plan showing the proposed works
is available for public inspection at the following offices: Public Enquiry Service
Centre, Central and Western District Office, Ground Floor, Harbour Building, 38
Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong; Hong Kong East and Hong Kong West District Lands
Offices, 19th Floor, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong;
Public Enquiry Service Centre, Eastern District Office, Ground Floor, Eastern
Law Courts Building, 29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong; and Public Enquiry
Service Centre, Wan Chai District Office, Ground Floor, 2 O'Brien Road, Wan Chai,
Hong Kong. Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is
required to address his objection in writing to the Secretary for Transport, 16th
Floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong not later than August 20, 2002,
describing his interest and the manner in which he alleges that he will be affected
by the works or the use. [Source:
Hong Kong Government, 21 June 2002] 10.
Unions fear mass layoffs after housing bodies merge
About 12,000 Housing Department staff fear mass layoffs after the Government announced
a radical shake-up which will see the department merged with the Housing Bureau,
unions said yesterday. Two or three directorate-grade posts might have to be removed
under the reforms, officials said. Unionists said staff morale had been pushed
to a "new low" and demanded full consultation. Under the reforms, announced
on Thursday, the Housing Department and Housing Bureau will be merged to form
a new unit. And the "non-core businesses" of the department, such as
managing estates and shopping malls, will be given to private firms. The Housing
Authority's role will be reduced to that of an advisory body. Deputy Secretary
for Housing Andrew Wells yesterday hinted that only senior-grade staff might be
affected. Without mentioning directorate-grade staff, Mr Wells said in a TVB interview:
"Middle-ranking or frontline staff should not be affected in this respect."
The department's Director of Corporate Services, Wilson Fung Wing-yip, who briefed
staff unions on the reforms yesterday, expected only two or three directorate-grade
officers might be affected. These officers might be transferred to other government
departments. "Reducing the staff size was never an aim of the reforms,"
Mr Fung said. The Alliance of Housing Department Staff Unions, a coalition of
30 staff unions, feared the management was not revealing the full story. "They
may not sack frontline staff immediately after the reforms are launched. But in
the long term, we are pessimistic," said an alliance spokesman. Housing Authority
member Michael Choi Ngai-min said downsizing was unavoidable but called on the
department to achieve it in a gradual manner. Former authority chief Rosanna Wong
Yick-ming said there was a need to streamline the structure of the housing policy-making
mechanism. Ms Wong said she hoped the authority would allow more people in the
community and from different professions to take part in decision-making. [Source:
SCMP, 22 June 2002] 11.
Housing revamp raises hope of faster clearance of slums
Slum clearance projects could be accelerated under plans for better co-operation
between the Urban Renewal Authority and the Housing Society, according to an authority
member. Legislator Lau Ping-cheung said: "The Housing Society and the authority
could make a perfect team. The Housing Society gets hold of a great deal of financial
and human resources but it has a shrinking number of projects in hand. "The
Housing Society could also use its vacant apartments to re-house tenants affected
by urban renewal projects." Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen announced
on Thursday a series of housing reforms, including closer co-operation between
the Housing Society and the authority on redevelopment projects. Housing Society
chairman Chung Shui-ming said the society would do its best to assist renewal
projects. Vice-chairman Chan Bing-woon told RTHK the society would consider investing
in projects that would benefit society as a whole even though it operated on a
commercial basis. It has been reported that the Housing Society has more than
$20 billion in reserves. Yesterday, the Finance Committee approved a government
injection of $10 billion into the Urban Renewal Authority for projects over the
next five years. Speaking at the committee meeting, Deputy Secretary for Planning
and Lands Cheung Siu-hing assured the Legco members that the Government would
monitor the efficiency of the urban renewal programme. Some members fear major
urban renewal projects that might involve the rehousing of a large number of residents
might be delayed after the Government said it would closely scrutinise the granting
of land for the authority. Democrat legislator James To Kun-sun said he was worried
that major projects might be held up to avoid flooding the market with new flats.
Ms Cheung said the authority would not hold up the sale of flats because it faced
enormous interest payments. The authority chairman, Lau Wah-sum, later welcomed
the approval of the financing, saying it could assist the authority in raising
funds. [Source:
SCMP, 22 June 2002] 12.
Disabled could staff new park, says group
A novel management proposal could see the $476.5 million Hong Kong Wetland Park
become a shining example of equal opportunity employment for people with disabilities.
The Wetlands Management Consortium, a new coalition of business, conservation
and rehabilitation groups, has proposed that people with physical or intellectual
disabilities make up about a quarter of the park's staff. Consortium members have
suggested a range of roles including housekeeping tasks such as cleaning and ticket
sales. Project manager Gerry Tucker founded the consortium after reading about
a government request for firms to put forward a management plan for the 64-hectare
park, due to be completed in 2005. Featuring reconstructed wetlands and a large
visitor centre, the park in Tin Shui Wai aims to attract 500,000 visitors a year
and mitigate the environmental effects of the development of Tin Shui Wai as a
new town. Mr Tucker said he believed a combination of non-government organisations
and businesses could prove more effective than a solely corporate approach. Non-government
groups had access to committed volunteers and would ensure that money-making objectives
did not over-ride the park's ecological objectives. The coalition includes the
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the UK's largest international wetland conservation
charity, which runs nine visitor centres covering 2,000 hectares. A government
spokesman said more than 10 firms had provided proposals, all of which would be
considered. [Source:
SCMP, 22 June 2002] 13.
Fears rise for KCRC on land projects
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp (KCRC) is likely to suffer more than counterpart MTR
Corp as a result of the Government's decision to tighten the supply of rail-related
property developments, according to analysts. The decision, part of the Government's
new housing policy to stabilise the battered property market, will affect the
granting of land for KCRC developments along the West Rail route. Running 30.5km
between Shamshuipo and Tuen Mun, the line is expected to be in service next year
and will be a driver of KCRC's passenger numbers and earnings. Analysts said the
new housing policy had inevitably prompted uncertainties on KCRC's growth prospects
and its potential listing. A Lands Department spokeswoman said yesterday the Government
had yet to grant land to KCRC for the West Rail property development. However,
she said MTRC's development in Tseung Kwan O had been cleared. One analyst agreed
that there was no need to worry about the MTRC's prospects. "In the near
future, I don't see any major negative impact on MTRC's development in Tseung
Kwan O arising from the new policy. The development will support MTRC's profit
growth in the next 10 years," the analyst said. "However, it seems there
is more concern on KCRC," he added. MTRC and KCRC subsidise heavy railway
investments mainly by developing property along rail lines. A KCRC spokeswoman
said the corporation welcomed the Government's new policy. "It will be good
for the Government to co-ordinate different property programmes from KCRC, MTRC
and Urban Renewal Authority," she said. She added that KCRC had an understanding
with MTRC and the authority in property development tendering. Along the West
Rail, KCRC had identified nine sites for development and had been aiming to build
30,000 apartments in a gross floor area of almost 24 million square feet until
2012, according to its latest annual report. Another development to be affected
is located along the proposed rail line between Sha Tin and Central, which is
the subject of a fierce battle between KCRC and MTRC. MTRC declined to comment
on the new policy as the impact was still being studied. Until 2012, MTRC will
develop residential and commercial properties with a total floor area of 25 million
sq ft along the Tseung Kwan O rail extension. [Source:
SCMP, 22 June 2002] 14.
URA offers Tsuen Wan sweeteners
In the face of competing projects, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is sweetening
the tender package for the Tsuen Wan town centre residential development to attract
developers. Tenders to take part in the 1.43 million-square-foot project close
on July 9. Surveyors estimate the development will be worth more than HK$5 billion
at today's market value. But they expect that investment by participating developers
could be below HK$2 billion because of URA's flexible tendering terms, allowing
developers to choose to pay zero land cost. This should encourage bidding interest.
Sources said URA had proposed two options for developers making bids. In both
cases, the URA would not participate in the development process but would shoulder
the Government's land premium cost. A source said the first option required developers
to offer a one-off payment for the land cost and to share the profit with the
URA on the portion of sale revenues exceeding HK$5.8 billion for the whole project.
Under the other option, developers would recommend an up-front payment together
with a property sales revenue sharing ratio, ranging from 5 per cent to 30 per
cent. In this case the URA did not set a minimum requirement for the up-front
payment, the source said. Analysts said the URA was trying to increase the competitiveness
of its project because both Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp and the MTR Corp were
launching tenders for massive residential developments on quality sites. A URA
official declined to comment on tender clauses but said the URA was still negotiating
the land premium payable for lease modification on part of the site. The authority
had invited 19 interested bidders to submit a tender offer for the Tsuen Wan redevelopment.
The selected parties, including New World Development, Wharf (Holdings), Nan Fung
Development and Henderson Land Development, had earlier expressed their interest
and were qualified as potential bidders. The official said there were three unqualified
parties but declined to identify them. The URA site covers 218,500 square feet
in Tai Ho and Yeung Uk roads and can be built into about 1,900 residential units
and retail space, together with 530 car parking spaces. Several years ago the
project was tendered and Henderson Land agreed to act as the development's project
manager and marketing agent. But delays arose and the URA decided to re-tender
the project. Sources said the URA was negotiating with Henderson to break the
previous agreement to enable the site to be sold to developers. Hong Kong Housing
Society property development manager Daniel Lau said it was qualified as a potential
bidder but a decision on whether or not to bid had to be made by the executive
committee. "We're interested because it is an urban improvement scheme,"
he said. Nan Fung Development project director Donald Choi was surprised by the
aggressive terms set by the URA and said the group might submit a tender. "The
project is attractive because developers can save land premium and up-front payment,"
he said. Wharf assistant director Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu said the group had yet
to decide on a tender submission, pending a further assessment. He said the URA
allowing developers to offer a percentage of property sales revenue instead of
charging a large amount of land cost would be more flexible because initial capital
cost would be reduced substantially. Gold Rich Consultants director Francis Lau
Tak said the tender clause was an advance because the authority would pass the
whole project straight to developers. It would therefore shoulder less risk and
urban redevelopment could be more efficient. "The new practice is more flexible
but will be more difficult to evaluate the highest or the best bid because the
two options are not valued on the same basis," he said. SK Pang Surveyors
managing director Pang Shiu-kee said the options set by the URA showed it was
keen to speed up urban redevelopment and attract developers in the face of competition
from other projects. [Source:
SCMP, 22 June 2002] |  |
|
