1 West Rail Tsuen Wan West Station TW7 Property Development Tender Award
MTR Press Release, 12 September 2008
MTR Corporation Limited (the “Corporation”), as the agent of Tsuen Wan West TW7 Property Development Limited (the “Company”), announced today that Queensway Investments Limited, a subsidiary of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited, has won the tender for the West
Rail Tsuen Wan West Station TW7 Property Development. Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited is a well established property developer and is the developer of properties along the Corporation’s railway lines at the Tseung Kwan O Area 86 (LOHAS Park) Package One, Two and Three Developments, Tiu Keng Leng Station Development, Tsing Yi Station Development, Tai Wai Maintenance Centre and the Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung.
Queensway Investments Limited has met all the tender requirements and offered the best financial terms to the Company. Once again, the Corporation looks forward to working with Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited to make the West Rail Tsuen Wan West Station TW7 Property Development a success.
2 Housing Department recovers Kwun Tong Factory Estate
Hong Kong Government, 12 September 2008
The Housing Department has recovered Kwun Tong Factory Estate, which was built in 1966.
The Housing Department (HD) has recovered all leased units of the Housing Authority's (HA) Kwun Tong Factory Estate (KTFE) today (September 12) ahead of schedule.
"The whole estate is now enclosed by hoardings. The cleared site will be returned to the government after demolition," a spokesman for the HD said.
Built in 1966, KTFE comprises two seven-storey blocks without lift service. There are a total of 817 units, each of a standard size of 24 square metres. The clearance of KTFE was endorsed by the Commercial Properties Committee of the HA in October 2006 due to its obsolete design and deteriorating structural condition.
As more and more local manufacturers move their operations to the Mainland, over 200 KTFE tenants had surrendered about 500 units to the HA under the Early Surrender Scheme introduced in 2000. Only about a hundred tenants were still in active business at the end of 2007.
Notices-to-quit were issued on November 30, 2007 informing the remaining tenants that the deadline for removal would be May 31, 2008. After taking into consideration the difficulties met by some operators, the HD postponed the deadline to September 18, 2008.
The rents for affected tenants had been frozen since the announcement of the demolition. The tenants were also offered ex-gratia allowances ranging from about $80,000 to $630,000, which were equivalent to 104 to 124 months' rent payable. The total amount of allowances payable is about $34 million.
In March 2005, the HA's Strategic Planning Committee endorsed the clearance of four older factory estates aged between 30 and 46 years. Apart from KTFE, they are Tai Wo Hau Factory Estate (TWHFE), Kowloon Bay Factory Estate (KBFE) and Chai Wan Factory Estate (CWFE). TWHFE was recovered last year. Recovery of KBFE is scheduled for mid-2009 and the date for CWFE is to be decided. All of the cleared sites will be returned to the government.
3 Construction Output for the Second Quarter of 2008
Hong Kong Government, 12 September 2008
The total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the second quarter of 2008 increased by 7.8% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $24.8 billion, according to the provisional results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released today (September 12) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
After discounting the effect of price changes, the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 2.5% in real terms over the same period.
Gross value of construction works in real terms is derived by deflating the corresponding nominal value with an appropriate price index to the price level in 2000.
Analysed by type of construction works, the gross value of construction works performed at private sector sites totalled $7.7 billion in the second quarter of 2008, up by 4.1% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 4.1%.
The gross value of construction works performed at public sector sites in the second quarter of 2008 increased by 4.7% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $3.7 billion. In real terms, it decreased by 4.5%.
On the other hand, the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $13.3 billion in the second quarter of 2008, up by 11.0% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it increased by 9.3%. Construction works at locations other than construction sites includes minor new construction activities and renovation works at erected buildings and structures; and electrical and mechanical fitting works at locations other than construction sites.
Analysed by end-use group, residential building projects accounted for the largest share in the gross value of construction works performed at construction sites. The gross value of construction works performed for these projects amounted to $4.8 billion in the second quarter of 2008, up by 17.0% in nominal terms over a year earlier.
Commercial building projects constituted the second largest group of construction site works. The gross value of construction works performed for these projects totalled $2.4 billion in the second quarter of 2008, down by 15.7% in nominal terms over a year earlier.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 1.6% in nominal terms in the second quarter of 2008 as compared with the first quarter of 2008, but slightly decreased by 0.3% in real terms.
Table 1 shows the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the second quarter of 2008 and Table 2 shows the revised figures for the first quarter of 2008.
Owing to the widespread sub-contracting practices in the construction industry, a construction establishment can be a main contractor for one contract and a sub-contractor for another contract at the same time. The gross value of construction works performed by main contractors covers only those projects in which the construction establishment takes the role of a main contractor, but not projects in which it takes only the role of a sub-contractor. Nevertheless, sub-contractors' contribution to projects should have been included in the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors for whom they worked.
More detailed statistics are given in the "Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output, 2nd Quarter 2008". Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$25 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel: 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website. Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
For enquiries about the survey results, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD at telephone no. 2805 6426 or email address building@censtatd.gov.hk.
4 Draft Kwun Tong (South) OZP, Draft URA Kwun Tong Town Centre- Main Site DSP and Draft URA Kwun Tong Town Centre- Yuet Wah Street Site DSP approved
Hong Kong Government, 12 September 2008
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Kwun Tong (South) Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), the draft Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Kwun Tong Town Centre (KTTC) - Main Site Development Scheme Plan, and the draft URA KTTC - Yuet Wah Street Site Development Scheme Plan (DSP).
"The approved plans provide a statutory land use framework to guide the development and redevelopment in the Kwun Tong (South) area, and the implementation of the URA KTTC Development Schemes", a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (September 12).
The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 387 hectares, is located within the Kwun Tong District in East Kowloon. The Planning Scheme Area can be separated into two main portions. The portion to the south-west of Kwun Tong Road is a long-established industrial area, i.e. Kwun Tong Business Area (KTBA), which is under transformation to meet the changing needs of the industrial and business sectors, whereas the portion to the north-east of Kwun Tong Road and Lei Yue Mun Road is predominantly occupied by residential developments.
All the industrial sites in the KTBA have been rezoned to "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated "Business" to encourage the transformation of the area into a business district comprising a mixture of commercial, office and non-polluting industrial uses. In addition, seven sites in the KTBA are zoned "Commercial (1)" ("C(1)") to provide commercial facilities for the workers. The "OU(Business)" and "C(1)" zones form part of the "OU" and "Commercial" zonings which take up 46.82 hectares and 1.21 hectares respectively.
To the north-east of Kwun Tong Road, the URA Development Scheme Area, which comprises two sites, namely the KTTC - Main Site and KTTC -Yuet Wah Street Site, take up 5.06 hectares. The two sites are rezoned "Comprehensive Development Area (1)" ("CDA(1)") and "CDA(2)" respectively on the approved DSPs which are intended for comprehensive development/redevelopment of the area for residential, Government and/or commercial users with the provision of open space and other community and supporting facilities.
About 136.10 hectares and 14.46 hectares are zoned "Residential (Group A)" and "Residential (Group B)" respectively. To cater for local as well as district needs, about 45.43 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community". About 42.19 hectares are zoned "Open Space" for both active and passive recreational uses. Some 28.88 hectares are zoned "Green Belt" and the rest of the Planning Scheme Area, about 67.25 hectares, are reserved for road and nullah.
The approved OZP No. S/K14S/16, DSPs No. S/K14S/URA1/2 and DSP No. S/K14S/URA2/2 are 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 Kowloon District Planning Office, and the Kwun Tong District Office.
Copies of the approved plans are available for sale at Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plans can be viewed at the Town Planning Board's website at www.info.gov.hk/tpb.
5 Draft Sai Ying Pun & Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 12 September 2008
The Chief Executive-in-Council has approved the draft Sai Ying Pun & Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development within the Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (September 12).
The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 146 hectares of land, is bounded by Hill Road to the west, Bonham Road and Caine Road to the south, Jubilee Street, Pottinger Street, D'Aguilar Street and Glenealy to the east, and the harbourfront to the north.
About 35 hectares of land, mainly along Connaught Road Central and West, Des Voeux Road Central and West, Queen's Road Central and West (northern side), Hollywood Road (northern side) and Arbuthnot Road, is zoned "Commercial/Residential" which is intended primarily for commercial and/or residential development. Three sites of commercial developments - the Grand Millennium Plaza, The Center and The Centrium - are zoned "Commercial" (about 1.8 hectares).
About 24 hectares of land covering the established residential neighbourhoods located mainly to the south of Queen's Road West and Hollywood Road is zoned "Residential (Group A)" which is intended for high-density residential development. About 0.29 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group C)" which is subject to specific plot ratio and building height restrictions to address problems of loading/unloading, limited emergency vehicular access and fire safety concerns.
A number of sites are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" (about 14 hectares) to serve the local and district needs for such facilities. About 13 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" for provision of outdoor open-air public space.
Sites allocated for various specific uses are zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") (about 12 hectares), which include public cargo working area, wholesale market, tram depot, liquefied petroleum gas filling station, ventilation building of the Western Harbour Crossing, elevated walkway, and commercial and public transport terminus and public car park.
The Western Market is zoned "OU" annotated "Existing Building Preserved for Retail, Restaurant, Cultural and Recreational Uses" to reflect a preservation scheme undertaken by the then Land Development Corporation. The Central Police Station, Victoria Prison and former Central Magistracy Compound is zoned "OU" annotated "Historical Site Preserved for Cultural, Recreational and Commercial Uses" which is intended to preserve, restore and convert the Compound into a heritage tourism attraction.
The approved Sai Ying Pun & Sheung Wan OZP No. S/H3/22 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in the North Point and Sha Tin Government Offices, the Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Central and Western District Office.
Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the Town Planning Board’s website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb
6 Draft Tin Shui Wai Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 12 September 2008
The Chief Executive-in-Council has approved the draft Tin Shui Wai Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Tin Shui Wai area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board (the Board) said today (September 12).
The Tin Shui Wai area, covering an area of about 430 hectares, is located in the north-western part of the North West New Territories. It is bounded by the Inner Deep Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest and Tin Tsz Road to the east and north-east, Mong Tseng Tsuen and Mong Tseng Wai to the north, Sha Kong Wai and Tin Ying Road to the west, and Kiu Tau Wai and Sheung Cheung Wai to the south.
About three hectares of land in Areas 20, 23 and 108A is zoned "Commercial" which is intended primarily for commercial developments.
Two sites in Areas 112 and 115 with a total area of about 14 hectares are designated "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA") which are intended for comprehensive lower density developments. Developments within the "CDA" zone have to adopt a stepped-height principle and take into account their proximity to the adjacent Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) Special Area and conservation areas as well as the landscape character and infrastructural capacities of the surrounding areas.
About 102 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group A)" for high-density residential developments. Sites intended for medium-density residential developments are zoned "Residential (Group B)", totalling about 38 hectares.
A site with an area of about two hectares in Area 33 is zoned "Undetermined" to allow the Board to maintain control over a previously approved scheme for a residential development with Government, institution or community (GIC) uses, market and public car park.
To serve the needs of the local residents and/or the wider area, about 28 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to provide for a wide range of GIC facilities.
Some 43 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" ("O") and "O(1)". The "O" zone is intended primarily for the provision of outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses whereas the "O(1)" zone is intended for passive recreational uses. Within the "O(1)" zone, the existing ponds will be preserved as landscape features and no filling of ponds is allowed.
About seven hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" to provide for specific uses such as sewage pumping station, electric sub-station, telephone exchange, bus depot and the like.
About 62 hectares of land covering the HKWP Special Area is zoned "Country Park" whereas some four hectares of land is zoned "Conservation Area" to protect and retain the existing natural landscape, ecological or topographical features of the area.
The approved Tin Shui Wai OZP No. S/TSW/12 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 Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Planning Office, the Yuen Long District Office and the Ping Shan Rural Committee.
Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb
