1 Proposals for developing Yau Tong Bay thrown down
Una So and Victor Cheung, The Standard 8 September 2007

The Town Planning Board has vetoed all three options for the HK$20 billion Yau Tong Bay development plan.

Board members questioned the proposed height of buildings on the waterfront, one of which was 200 meters.

The Planning Department criticized Henderson Land's (0012) calculation of plot ratios and gross floor areas, saying they included the proposed promenade and deviated from planning standards.

The three options all have a total plot ratio ranging from five to six, with the developer planning for 5,000 residential units, with one option containing 10 twin towers and two low-rise blocks for residential use with heights ranging from 48 meters to 188 meters and a 178-meter office building.

The second has no office building but 11 residential twin towers and two low-rises with heights ranging from 48 to 188 meters.

The third option has 14 150-meter twin towers with a 200-meter office block.

Although the department preferred the second option which has no office blocks, none of the three options garnered support from board members.

Board member Michael Lai Kam- chang said he has reservations about all three designs with buildings close to 200 meters compared with the tallest building on the Hung Hom waterfront, which is only about 75 meters tall.

Another member, Stanley Wong Yuen-fai, said the developer did not provide adequate information or models to justify such high-rises on the waterfront.

Even the Planning Department considered the gross floor areas of the three proposals excessive and unacceptable for the waterfront.

Town Planning Board chairman Raymond Young Lap-moon requested the Planning Department give Henderson planning parameters and meet the board again in about two months.

Augustine Wong Ho-ming, Henderson Land property development general manager, said the decision was disappointing, adding that the board should not focus solely on building heights.

Wong said the ruling that the promenade area be excluded from the plot ratio was unfair.

Victor Lai Kin-fai, managing director of Centaline Surveyors, said the board was bold to show its concern about air quality.

Lai said since concerned groups have raised the issue of the "wall effect," the government can no longer drag its feet in tackling the problem.

What worried him was that lower height limits may raise building densities, which also would hinder air flow.