************************************************************
In response to media enquiries on the remarks made by Dr the Hon Kwok Ka-ki on the Tamar development project in the "Letter to Hong Kong" broadcast on RTHK, a Government spokesman said today (March 19) that the development project was not only about development of a new Central Government Complex.
According to the "Central District (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan" (the relevant OZP), about half of the Tamar site, viz. 2 hectares, is designated for "Open Space" use. The Government will develop this "Open Space" portion into a "Civic Place" for the public's recreational use. The remaining half of the site will be for construction of a new Legislative Council Complex, in addition to the new Central Government Complex.
The Government has conducted assessments on the traffic impact of the Tamar development project in 2002 and 2005. According to the Transport Department's most updated figures of September 2005, the traffic flow to be generated from the Tamar project in the operation stage is estimated insignificant, and would not cause adverse impacts on the traffic flow of the Central Business District.
Subject to the funding approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, the Tamar development project will start in 2007 and complete in 2010 at the earliest. There is considerable time before the relocation of the existing Government headquarters. The Government, therefore, considers it more appropriate to decide on the future use(s) of the existing Central Government Offices and Murray Building sites nearer the completion of the Tamar project. It will better reflect and take into account future prevailing community needs and concerns, as well as socio-economic changes, in order to meet the interest of the public at large.
According to the relevant OZP, the Central Government Offices and Murray Building sites are at present zoned for "Government, Institution or Community" use. If there were any change of the existing use in future, the Government would have to follow the established statutory procedures, including the necessary public consultation process, instituted under the Town Planning Ordinance.
The Government proposes to implement the Tamar development project with a "design-and-build" approach, and at the same time attaches great importance to the design of developments on the Tamar site. We will require the tenderers to propose design schemes for the Tamar project that can blend in with the urban context of the Central District, as well as the natural environment of the waterfront setting. The ultimate goal is to develop the Tamar site into an iconic prime civic core of Hong Kong.
Ends/Sunday, March 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:46
NNNN
