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for. 1.
Tender invited for Ma Wan Theme Park site 2.
Town Planning Board hears Ngong Ping objections 3.
CLK centre wins HK$2b funding 4.
Why we all need the bridge
1. Tender invited for Ma Wan Theme Park site
Hong
Kong Government, 20 December 2002 The
Government is inviting tenders for sale of a site on Ma Wan Island for development
into a theme park for recreation and tourist attraction. Details of the tender
are contained in a notice gazetted today (December 20). The
site, which is located in the southern part of the island with an area of about
120,000 square metres, will be granted by way of premium for a term of 50 years
at a specified rent. A
Lands Department spokesman said that the strategic location and scenic setting
of the site offers good potential for private sector development of a theme park
to be enjoyed by both local residents and overseas visitors. The park will complement
other tourist facilities and attractions nearby. "To
encourage innovative and creative proposals, a special marking scheme and a weighted
scoring system will be applied in considering the award of the tender. Both premium
and non-premium aspects will form the criteria for assessment of the tenders."
"Tenderers
are required to provide a proposed business plan and proof of their financial
capability. The plan should also comprise a traffic impact assessment report as
well as an environmental assessment report." "In
addition, a statement on the envisaged economic and tourism benefits of the proposed
development in terms of job creation, generation of business opportunities, contribution
to enhancing Hong Kong's attractiveness as a tourist destination, as well as synergy
with other tourist facilities and attractions nearby should also be submitted,"
the spokesman said. Copies
of the Tender Notice and Tender document may be obtained from the following locations: *
Survey & Mapping Office, Lands Department, 23rd floor, North Point Government
Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point; *
District Lands Offices/Kowloon, 10th floor, Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building, 250 Shanghai
Street, Kowloon; and *
District Lands Office/Tsuen Wan, 10th floor, Tsuen Wan Station Multi-storey Carpark
Building, 174-208 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan. They
can also be downloaded from the Lands Department's homepage http://www.info.gov.hk/landsd/.
The tenders should
be placed in the Government Secretariat Tender Box at the lift lobby on the lower
ground floor of Central Government Offices (East Wing), Lower Albert Road, Hong
Kong on or before March 21, 2003. "To
facilitate interested parties in preparing for their submissions, a specially
designed website for the subject tender at http://www.info.gov.hk/landsd/mawan
was launched today," the spokesman said.
2. Town Planning Board hears Ngong Ping objections
Hong
Kong Government, 20 December 2002 The
Town Planning Board has heard 13 unwithdrawn objections to the draft Ngong Ping
Outline Zoning Plan today (December 20). The
objections are mainly related to a proposed public piazza in front of Po Lin Monastery,
the future arrangement for the existing hawker stalls, and a nearby site at the
Tea Garden designated for recreational use. On
the objection raised by Po Lin Monastery, the Board noted that the objector's
main concerns were on the control and management of the proposed piazza, the need
to preserve an access for buses at the piazza, and the proposed emergency vehicular
access to the Tea Garden. The
Board was happy to note that there had been useful and constructive discussions
between the Government and Po Lin Monastery to address the concerns through administrative
measures, and some arrangements had been agreed in principle. "The
resolution of these issues is outside the purview of the Board and will not affect
the land use zonings on the plan," a spokesman for the Board said. After
considering the points raised by the objectors, the Board was of the view that
the various land use zonings on the plan would adequately achieve the planning
objectives and no amendment to the plan was necessary. The
plan aims at conserving the natural and religious character of Ngong Ping, while
enhancing visitor attractions and facilities to tie in with the proposed cable
car link to the area. "The
plan has struck a proper balance between the various planning objectives,"
the spokesman explained. "On
the controversial public piazza, the Board considers that the "Open Space"
zoning is appropriate. The Board does not think such zoning would preclude it
from being used as a venue for religious activities. On the contrary, the piazza
would complement the landmark feature of the Buddha Statue and reinforce the religious
character, and improve pedestrian circulation and connectivity between places
of interest in Ngong Ping." The
Board recognised that the existing bus terminus could not cater for the increase
in visitors to Ngong Ping upon the completion of the cable car link. It also considered
that the retention of the existing access road and bus terminus would affect the
proposed piazza and perpetuate environmental nuisances caused by vehicular traffic.
However, it noted that the Government would explore the feasibility of converting
an existing hammerhead near the public toilet to allow buses to drop off passengers.
"The Board
considered that the new public transport terminal cum car/coach parks would not
be far away from the core of Ngong Ping. There are alternative means for direct
vehicular access to Po Lin Monastery. Moreover, a proposed shuttle service between
the cable car terminal and the core area could also serve the bus users. This
would help meet the needs of the villagers and visitors," the spokesman explained.
The Board was
of the view that the retention of the existing hawker stalls at their present
location would pose constraints on achieving comprehensive and quality design
of the proposed piazza. The
spokesman said that there would be flexibility for provision of stall facilities
within the piazza through planning application, while design and implementation
arrangements would be subject to detailed investigation by the Government. On
the emergency vehicular access to the Tea Garden site, the Board considered the
access necessary for the development in the "Recreation" zone, noting
that the Government would avoid the fence wall of Po Lin Monastery as far as possible
while keeping the adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest intact. Regarding
the zoning for the Tea Garden site, the spokesman said that the Board considered
the "Recreation" zoning with a maximum plot ratio of 0.6 and building
height of 9m appropriate to maintain compatibility with the surrounding natural
setting and religious character, apart from preventing overloading infrastructure
in the locality. The
draft Ngong Ping Outline Zoning Plan, together with all unwithdrawn objections,
will be submitted to the Chief Executive in Council for approval in accordance
with the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.
3. CLK centre wins HK$2b funding
Keith
Wallis, The Standard 20 December 2002 InvestHK
director general Mike Rowse was given an early Christmas present by legislators
yesterday after finance committee members rubber-stamped plans to invest up to
HK$2 billion in an exhibition centre at Chek Lap Kok airport. Weeks
of lobbying by the director general of investment promotion and his staff paid
off after the proposal, with a minimum of discussion, was given the green light
within minutes of the finance meeting starting yesterday. The
way is now clear for officials to invite tenders from the four shortlisted private
sector groups by the end of February for the design, construction and operation
of the facility. Tenders
will be returned in April and the government hopes to award a contract in June.
The design of the complex and construction will start in the second half of next
year. Completion
of the first phase is due in the second half 2005 to coincide with the opening
of Disneyland at Penny's Bay and to alleviate pressure on existing facilities
in Wan Chai. Speaking
after yesterday's vote, Rowse said the government planned to organise a series
of promotions that would complement the opening of both the exhibition centre
and Disneyland. Prior
to the meeting Rowse warned legislators that funding had to be approved now otherwise
the complex could not be finished by its target 2005 opening date. Under
the terms of the agreement with the winning development group, the government
plans to form two joint ventures. The first will be between the government and
the Airport Authority, while the second will be created by the government-Airport
Authority consortium and the winning private sector group. The
private sector venture is required to inject at least 15 per cent to help finance
the cost of construction. Government
will cap its investment in the exhibition centre at HK$2 billion even though the
60,000-square-metre first phase is estimated to cost HK$2.41 billion and the bill
for the entire 100,000-square-metre complex is set to reach HK$4 billion. The
government has yet to explain where the remaining cash will come from if there
is a shortfall. Rowse
yesterday said the facility would bring significant economic benefits to Hong
Kong, but again rejected suggestions the complex could be fully funded by the
private sector. He
said the Wan Chai convention and exhibition centre was fully subsidised by the
government, as were similar facilities elsewhere in the world. This
sets the precedent for the government to support the Chek Lap Kok complex. Asked
if this was a justifiable reason, Rowse said government support was necessary
because the Chek Lap Kok facility would be uneconomical if it was fully funded
by the private sector. He
said private operators could never hope to recover the cost of capital through
hire fees and associated charges.
4. Why we all need the bridge
Editorial,
SCMP 20 December 2002 One
day in coming years it will be possible to pack the family in the car in Hong
Kong and drive off across the Pearl River estuary to Hainan Island or even Vietnam,
stopping for a dip in the Zhongshan springs. Before
that shining moment, a great many hurdles have to be crossed. And even before
the obvious engineering, logistical and financial barriers are surmounted, the
bureaucratic difficulties must be tackled. In
the short term at least, these cannot be under-estimated. A bridge may symbolically
link Hong Kong with the rest of the Pearl River Delta. Yet in its own way it highlights
the difficulties and suspicions still clouding the fledgling relationship as it
evolves after a turbulent history. Each
passing week seems to carry fresh signs of concern in Guangdong. The leadership
in Beijing is reportedly keen, yet is not quite ready to set timetables, apparently
aware of some tough provincial decisions ahead. In
the latest sign, a prominent Guangdong academic and government adviser has warned
that Hong Kong seems to be pushing ahead too quickly. The remarks of Zhongshan
University's Zheng Tianxiang appear to suggest a sense on the mainland that Hong
Kong is looking a little desperate after four years of deflation, a slump caused
in part by its increased interaction with its much cheaper neighbour. ''The bridge
will help Hong Kong, but it won't solve all of its problems,'' he said. He
is undoubtedly right. And if his views are widespread, then it means Hong Kong
has to re-double efforts to ease suspicions to bring the project to fruition by
providing planning and financial leadership. Perhaps
the Hong Kong government needs a more acute grasp of the various rival sensibilities
immediately across the border, where each county has an eye for self-sufficiency
and growth. The
government has already signalled its desire for a Y-shaped bridge - one that links
Macau and Zhuhai but effectively cuts out fast-growing Shenzhen and its port,
Shekou. An alternative,
but more expensive, proposal from a group of Hong Kong companies seeks to cover
all bases. In
an ideal world, Hong Kong could quickly assess the rivalries across the border,
bringing the various parties together to forge a project that snares widespread
approval. In practice, that is easier said than done as each side guards its own
interests zealously. Yet,
it doesn't take much vision or foresight to see that the bridge will benefit all.
A bridge between Hong Kong and the other side of the Pearl River, whatever its
alignment, would lop several hours off a journey that now takes at best half a
day to complete, by ferry or bus. It would bring the western part of Guangdong
closer to Hong Kong, still the financial engine of the region. And as the economic
pie gets bigger, it should mean more wealth for all. | 
