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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, in the Legislative Council today (November 7):
Question:
The Chief Executive has indicated in his election manifesto that he plans to restart, eight years later, the reclamation plans for which feasibility studies have been completed, including the reclamation plan in Sham Tseng/Tsuen Wan which the Government decided to shelve in 2003. On the other hand, I have learnt that Tsuen Wan Bay is located within the Victoria Harbour, and that according to the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531) and the relevant judgment handed down by the Court of Final Appeal, the authorities must establish that there is an overriding public need for reclamation before it may implement reclamation plans within the Victoria Harbour. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has decided to restart the reclamation plan in Sham Tseng/Tsuen Wan eight years later; if so, of the reasons and justifications for that;
(b) whether it has studied, in making the decision mentioned in (a), if there is an overriding public need for the reclamation plan in Tsuen Wan; if the result of the study is in the affirmative, of the details; if the result of the study is in the negative, why the Government can restart the plan eight years later; and
(c) whether it will undertake to uphold the policy adopted by the Government of the previous terms to permanently shelve the reclamation plan in Sham Tseng/Tsuen Wan, in order to ensure that the living environment of the residents in the district will not deteriorate; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The manifesto of the Chief Executive sets out the guiding thoughts and objectives on Land, Planning and Transportation. On increasing land supply, he affirms that land underpins all social and economic activities because land is required for resolving housing problems, developing trades and industries, and providing public and community facilities. As such, it is critical to provide land resources in a timely manner and on an appropriate scale for the sustainable development of Hong Kong. In view of the strategic and visionary nature of land planning and utilisation and the need to break out from the silo mentality, the manifesto sets forth short, medium and long term measures. They include identifying short term usable land (to be completed in 2 to 3 years), expediting land supply in newly developed zones (to be completed in 3 to 8 years) and planning for long-term land supply (to be completed after 8 years). Moreover, a multi-pronged approach shall be adopted for expanding land resources. This includes identifying land which has supporting infrastructure and can be developed readily, developing land with development potential, implementing new development areas for land supply and exploring reclamation outside Victoria Harbour, with a view to increasing land supply in a flexible manner and building up land reserves to meet the development needs of the community, enhancing our competitiveness, raising the quality of life and housing progressively, and meeting the future demands arising from economic re-structuring and demographic changes.
The reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The manifesto of the Chief Executive has mentioned restarting the reclamation plans for which feasibility studies have been completed as a guiding thought on long-term land supply after 8 years for maintaining the sustainable development of Hong Kong. These reclamation plans for which feasibility studies have been completed cover areas scattered all over Hong Kong and the manifesto has quoted some districts such as northern Lantau and Sham Tseng/Tsuen Wan for illustration purpose. The manifesto also mentions actively exploring the feasibility of other reclamation areas outside Victoria Harbour in order to meet the long-term land demand.
(b) and (c) The present status of the reclamation plans in Sham Tseng/Tsuen Wan as referred to in the question is as follows:
(i) The reclamation plan in Tsuen Wan refers to the study entitled "Tsuen Wan Bay Further Reclamation - Area 35 Engineering, Planning and Environmental Investigation" and the proposed works lie within Victoria Harbour. The Government appreciates the ardent aspirations of the public to protect and preserve Victoria Harbour, which is an invaluable natural asset of the people of Hong Kong. Therefore it announced the cancellation of a number of proposed reclamation plans within Victoria Harbour, including the one in Tsuen Wan, in October 2003 having regard to the enactment of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance and a judgment of the Court of Final Appeal on reclamation. For any proposed reclamation plan within Victoria Harbour, it is foremost to tackle the issues on the overriding public interest.
(ii) The reclamation plan in Sham Tseng of Tsuen Wan District refers to the "Planning and Engineering Feasibility Study for Sham Tseng Development". The Study was for a proposed housing development located outside Victoria Harbour and was completed in 2003. The Government did not take forward the reclamation plan in Sham Tseng on the basis of the then housing demand of Hong Kong. However in view of the insufficient land supply situation of Hong Kong in recent years, the Government commenced the Study on Enhancing Land Supply Strategy: Reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and Rock Cavern Development last year and launched the stage 1 public engagement activities. This Study includes reviewing reclamation plans for which feasibility studies have been completed, identifying other suitable reclamation sites, and listening to the views of the public on reclamation site selection criteria for conducting preliminary technical studies. The views of the public collected during the stage 1 public engagement revealed that there was general consensus on the site selection criteria that encompassed social, environmental and economic effectiveness, with emphasis on the impacts on the community, environment and marine ecology. We will select potential reclamation sites carefully according to the above selection criteria and are planning to put forward several potential reclamation sites in the first quarter of next year for commencing the stage 2 public engagement.
Ends/Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:51
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