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1. More uses permitted in industrial zone

2. Two outline zoning plans amended

3. Residents keep up pressure on road

4. Weak housing mood prompts fine-tuning of chevalier focus

1. More uses permitted in industrial zone

Use of industrial land has become increasingly flexible following a decision by the Town Planning Board to include "Educational Institution" and "Place of Public Entertainment" as two additional permissible uses in the "Industrial" zone. A spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (September 21) that the decision would allow more flexibility in providing the two uses at appropriate locations within industrial areas. Upon their inclusion under Column 2 of the Notes for the "Industrial" zone with corresponding amendments to the Outline Zoning Plans(OZPs), the two uses may be permitted by way of planning permission in industrial buildings proposed for comprehensive conversion or in industrial-office buildings. The spokesman stressed that suitable control through the planning permission system would ensure that any potential traffic, environmental and fire safety concerns would be properly addressed. Due to fire safety and other planning considerations, no provision is made for planning application for partial conversion of an industrial building for educational institution and public entertainment uses. The Board has also agreed to permit as of right the development of free-standing, purpose-designed buildings or complete conversion of industrial or industrial-office buildings for educational institution use in the "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Business" zone. At present, the use is only permitted in part of a business building or in the commercial portion of an industrial-office building. In a corresponding step, the Board has revised the Guidelines for Use/Development within "Industrial" Zone (TPB PG-No. 25A), which can be downloaded from its website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb. The South West Kowloon OZP No. S/K20/11 being exhibited has incorporated the said amendments to the "Industrial" zone. The Notes of other relevant OZPs will be amended when opportunities arise, the spokesman said. End/Friday, September 21, 2001.

[Source: Hong Kong Government, 21 September 2001]

2. Two outline zoning plans amended

The Town Planning Board today (September 21) announced amendments to the South West Kowloon Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) and the North-East Lantau OZP. The covering Notes of the two plans are amended to take forward the Board's decision on June 22 to clarify its intention with respect to "existing use" in the urban and new town areas. The scope of "existing use" is defined to include not only a use which was in existence at the time of imposition of a new land use zoning restriction but also a use approved under the Buildings Ordinance, provided that the use was a permitted use under the prevailing OZP when the use was approved. In addition, the following amendments are made in the South West Kowloon OZP: * a site at Yen Chow Street West is rezoned from "Industrial (2)" ("I(2)") to "Industrial" ("I"). The Notes for the "I(2)" zone are replaced by a new set of Notes for the "I" zone. * "Educational Institution" use is added under Column 1 of the Notes for the "Commercial" zone. * The Notes for the "Government, Institution or Community" zone is amended by transferring 'Residential Institution' use from Column 1 to Column 2. The two draft plans incorporating the amendments are available for public inspection at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, and the respective District Planning Offices and District Offices. Any person affected by the amendments may send a written objection to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before October 12, 2001. Copies of the draft plans are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. End/Friday, September 21, 2001.

[Source: Hong Kong Government, 21 September 2001]

3. Residents keep up pressure on road

Lawmakers, environmentalists and residents yesterday criticised a government decision not to build a highway linking Kennedy Town with Aberdeen through Pokfulam. Transport officials insisted there was no need to extend the road link from Pokfulam to Aberdeen, dismissing the fears of residents of traffic jams in Aberdeen. More than 30 people protested outside the Legco chamber during the transport panel meeting. At the special meeting, representatives of green groups, town planners and civic groups unanimously rejected the decision. They warned of a possible negative impact on the environment and repeated their preference for a rail link. Originally it was planned that the 8km Route Seven would start at the western end of Kennedy Town, pass through the CyberPort site and end at Aberdeen. The $8.7 billion highway is aimed at relieving traffic jams in the Aberdeen Tunnel and Pokfulam Road. But this plan was scrapped in July, and under a new plan a four-lane road from Kennedy Town will now end just past the CyberPort site in Telegraph Bay. The latest government assessment said the existing road could cope with increased traffic in the next few years. Wong King-cheung, vice-chairman of Southern District Council, told legislators a new road was needed. Residents' groups said people were becoming fed up with traffic jams every morning on their way to work. The Democratic Party and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong support the original plan, as well as a rail link. Democrat legislator Wong Sing-chi said the Government plan for a shorter road was ridiculous and the Secretary for Transport should resign for supporting it.

[Source: SCMP, 22 September 2001]

4. Weak housing mood prompts fine-tuning of chevalier focus

Chevalier Group will focus on expanding its environmental engineering and technology businesses because of weak housing and construction sentiment. Speaking after a shareholders' general meeting yesterday, group chairman Chow Yei-ching said the construction and building services would face tougher competition after the Government suspended subsidised flat sales. Many contractors were also cautious towards the Government's Private Sector Participation Scheme subsidised housing development given tighter building regulations, he said. The construction sector was one part of the group's business portfolio, which meant the impact of these Government moves on the group was limited. Mr Chow said Chevalier would continue to diversify into such areas as pipe rehabilitation, environmental engineering and information technology business in an effort to stabilise revenue and enhance competitiveness in the market. Chevalier Group has developed into four diversified companies which operate businesses ranging from building construction, civil engineering, information technology, property investment, lifts and escalators and maintenance services. The group has three Hong Kong-listed companies - Chevalier Construction Holdings, Chevalier International and Chevalier iTech Holdings. Stephen Kuok Hoi-sang, managing director of Chevalier International, said its pipe rehabilitation business had secured contracts worth more than HK$100 million. It planned to expand the business into other Southeast Asian markets such as Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The company was also negotiating some environmental engineering projects in China, Mr Kuok said. Meanwhile, the group would be active in its China property and hotel portfolio in the run-up to the country's entry to the World Trade Organisation later this year, Mr Kuok said.

[Source: SCMP, 22 September 2001]