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The Director of Administration, Ms Elizabeth Tse and representatives from the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, Architectural Services Department, Transport Department, Environmental Protection Department and Planning Department today (May 19) discussed the Tamar development project with 24 groups and individuals.
"We have met interested parties on many occasions since the relaunch of the project in October 2005. Today's meeting enables us to engage the interested parties in a face-to-face dialogue," a spokesman for the Administration Wing said.
"Those at the meeting included representatives from the construction industry, District Council, professional institutes and environmental bodies.
"The government team explained that in response to public feedback, the government had already opted to reduce the office space requirements by 10 per cent compared with the 2003 proposal, and introduced a '20 per cent building-free zone under the ridgeline' requirement to preserve the ridgeline and maintain an open view to and from Victoria Harbour," he said.
"The two-hectare public open space at Tamar, coupled with the future waterfront promenade for Central Reclamation III, would provide a total of 10.8 hectares of public open space, an area larger than Hong Kong Park," he added.
At the meeting, some groups also commented on the planning of the new Central waterfront, although it is not part of the Tamar project. A Planning Department representative took the opportunity to explain the vision, planning and urban design concepts for the area.
The spokesman said the views received on the Tamar project were "rather diverse". "Some urged the government to press ahead with the project in view of the unemployment situation within the construction sector and the fact that many jobs would be created by the project. Discussions had gone on for too long; it was time to act.
"Others questioned the justification and urgency for the Tamar project, and its related environmental and traffic impacts on the district," he said.
In response, the government team stressed that the Tamar project would be designed to bring the public closer to the administration and the legislature. At least half of the site would be set aside as open space.
The Central Government Complex and the Legislative Council Complex would be a low-intensity office development and the project would have no significant long-term environmental and traffic implications.
The government further confirmed that it would stipulate design requirements making the Tamar project as accessible, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient as possible in the tender document.
Those present generally welcomed the government's decision to display the models of the tender designs to the public so that the Special Selection Board could take into account public views when evaluating the tenders.
Ends/Friday, May 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:52
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