SKYLINE Technologies -- News Update (12 October 2005 )

12 October 2005

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1. Kai Tak invites another rumpus

2. Planning institute weighs into Tamar row

1. Kai Tak invites another rumpus
Winnie Chong, The Standard 12 October 2005

Plans to turn the former Kai Tak airport site into a world-class sports city could become embroiled in another controversy similar to that which snared the West Kowloon Cultural District project, according to a government advisory body.

In his maiden policy speech today, Chief Executive Donald Tsang is expected to disclose his vision of turning the former airport into a HK$2 billion world-class sports venue.

However, Harbour Plan Review subcommittee chairman Vincent Ng, who is also vice president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, said Tuesday that the site had also been earmarked for a hotel and commercial and residential buildings.

Ng said he does not disagree with either the construction of a sports center or the site, but that there should be careful attention to all details before a plan is formulated.

"But what surprises me is that we need as much as 24 hectares for a sports stadium. In fact the 24 hectares should be enough for the commercial and residential buildings as well as a hotel and a sports stadium," he said.

"It is very likely that the SAR government will have to rely on private corporations to fund such a sports venue and this means allowing them raise this cash from the development of residential and commercial buildings."

To fund the massive sports city project, Tsang is looking at selling off the under-used Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po, adjacent to Causeway Bay, government sources said Monday.

"East Kowloon will basically become the third chapter of the West Kowloon Cultural District saga," Ng said.

"The government is already aware of the controversy over the West Kowloon cultural hub and now it seems to be inviting another controversy."

Ng also said that since there can be no further reclamation of land in East Kowloon, an oversized sports arena could prevent other development projects in the area.

Architectural, Surveying and Planning Functional Constituency legislator Patrick Lau Sau-shing, who is also the vice chairman of the Town Planning Board, said there should be adequate infrastructure in East Kowloon such as a road network before the government can proceed with its plan to build a world sports city.

He said that instead of building a sports stadium at Kai Tak, it would be better for the government to build an ocean cruise center as this would bring more tourists to Hong Kong.

The government is looking at four uses for the 133-hectare Kai Tak redevelopment plan, namely, commercial, residential, sports and an aviation museum.

Part of the plan is a 24-hectare sports city, which will comprise a 45,000-seat stadium, a 5,000-seat supplementary sports ground and an indoor sports complex with swimming pools.

The redevelopment will also include building a tourism hub supported by commercial development, including shopping malls and hotels. The government hopes to start construction in 2008.

2. Planning institute weighs into Tamar row
DIKKY SINN, SCMP 12 October 2005

The Institute of Planners has added its voice to those opposing the relocation of government headquarters to the Tamar site.

But it does favour using the harbourfront site at Admiralty for a new Legislative Council building and offices for the chief executive and Executive Council.

The institute believes the government headquarters should remain in Lower Albert Road, seeing no urgent need to move the offices. It opposes selling the Lower Albert Road site for redevelopment to fund a relocation to Tamar.

It is believed Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen will announce plans for the harbourfront site to house the government headquarters in his maiden policy address today.

Given that the development of the Tamar site will worsen traffic congestion in Central and Wan Chai, the institute believes the government should come up with measures to ease the problem.

It is also urging the administration to review the height limit for buildings on the site, saying limits on development at Tamar were based on outdated assumptions.

The current statutory plan permits buildings at Tamar to be 60 storeys high.

"If this height limit [is set], the government will violate its own urban planning guidelines which require protection of the ridge line and Victoria Harbour, and the principle of viewing Victoria Harbour from The Peak," the institute says.