Response to media enquiries on development of Wang Chau
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First, on the question of consultancy reports, what the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, was referring to yesterday (November 12) was the Planning and Engineering Study for the Public Housing Site and Yuen Long Industrial Estate Extension at Wang Chau development (P&E Study) commissioned by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA). The study mentioned by the Development Bureau was commissioned by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), on infrastructural works for the Wang Chau Phase 1 public housing development and so on. These are two different studies involving two different contracts.
In respect of the P&E Study, the consultant has declared to the HA in December 2014 that it would also work on a rezoning study for a private development project at the vicinity. The HA approved the application by the consultancy in principle in January 2015 on the conditions that it should observe the requirement of confidentiality and non-disclosure in accordance with the consultancy study contract. The HA has so far not found that information collected for the P&E Study has been used for other purposes without approval. However, the HA has written to the consultant requesting clarifications on the questions of the same staff appearing at the same time on the P&E Study report and the rezoning application report as well as certain information in the reports. After receiving the reply, the HA will follow up with the consultant and consider if there is a need to take appropriate follow-up actions according to the regulatory regime of the HA and terms of the contract between the HA and the consultant, including claims for damages.
On the question of road routing at Wang Chau Phase 1, the Government spokesman has already stated clearly on the press release on September 30 that:
"In the traffic impact assessment submitted to the RNTPC (Rural and New Town Planning Committee), routing of the road connecting Wang Chau Phase 1 was different from the one outlined in the paper submitted by the CEDD to the Yuen Long District Council's Traffic and Transport Committee (TTC Paper No. 39/2015) on May 21, 2015.
"As for the reason for the re-routing, the CEDD had already given a detailed account in the paper for the aforesaid meeting of the Yuen Long District Council. It was stated that 'Through enhancing the road routing and moving it northward within the development boundary by the CEDD, members of the public will have the convenience of passing in and out the burial ground located to the north of the development area without the need to enter into the future housing estate.'
"As regards the planning application by a private development at the locality of the Wang Chau public housing development, when the Planning Department consulted related government departments on it, the Housing Department raised objection on the ground that ingress of the road proposed by the private development would encroach into the boundary of the Phase 1 public housing development at Wang Chau and the original design of the public road for Wang Chau Phase 1 had not taken into account the private development."
The spokesman further stated clearly in his response to the media on October 25 that:
"As we understand, the application of the private development has not yet been approved. The private developer submitted revised information on rezoning application to the Town Planning Board (TPB) on September 29 this year. The Government will give its views again to the TPB accordingly."
Ends/Sunday, November 13, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:25
Issued at HKT 22:25
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