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The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (April 19) announced the publication of a new draft Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) for the Wan Chai North area.
The Planning Scheme Area of the draft Wan Chai North OZP covers about 77 hectares. The Area provides land for important transport infrastructure, including the proposed Central-Wan Chai Bypass, the Island Eastern Corridor Link, the North Hong Kong Island Line and the proposed Fourth Rail Harbour Crossing, as well as for commercial office developments and government office buildings in Wan Chai District.
A spokesman of the Board said that the OZP included about 26 hectares of land from reclamation.
"The extent of reclamation is the minimum extent of land required to accommodate essential infrastructure requirements and to allow development of a waterfront promenade of international standard for the enjoyment of the public," he said.
To provide an attractive setting for civic events and land for both active and passive recreational activities, 16.6 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space", which covers the existing open spaces and the future waterfront promenade that extends from the Central Reclamation Phase III in the west to the eastern end of the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. The promenade together with the large outdoor event space to the east of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) Extension would become a major tourist attraction and focus for the local community. The "Open Space (1)" zone adjacent to the HKCEC Extension will incorporate an underground exhibition hall with supporting facilities and public vehicle park.
A striking feature of the waterfront open space proposals is the incorporation of a Harbour Park along the existing Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter breakwater. It will be a unique, interesting and dynamic public space to bring people to the Harbour.
To enhance the development of the future Wan Chai waterfront as a tourist, cultural and recreational attraction, 2.56 hectares of land is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" for exhibition and entertainment development incorporating the future North Hong Kong Island Line Exhibition Station and a public transport interchange.
About 14 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") for specific uses such as exhibition centre with commercial development, pier, waterfront related commercial and leisure uses, sports and recreation club, temple, leisure and entertainment complex, helipad, petrol filling station and elevated walkway etc.
To cater for the provision of existing and planned GIC facilities within the Area, 10.53 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("GIC").
Areas covering the existing commercial/office developments to the north of Gloucester Road and the newly proposed commercial sites on the reclaimed land to the north of the World Trade Centre are zoned "Commercial" (3.93 hectares).
The proposed developments in the vicinity of the waterfront promenade will be low-rise to ensure that they are in keeping with the pedestrian environment and the integrity of Victoria Peak can be maintained. Building height restrictions are stipulated in the Notes for most of the land use zones on the waterfront.
As two areas are excised from the draft Wan Chai and North Point OZPs for inclusion in the new draft Wan Chai North OZP for more comprehensive planning, the boundaries of the Planning Scheme Areas for the former two OZPs have been amended.
Apart from these, an amendment has also been made to the draft Wan Chai OZP by rezoning the existing petrol filling station at Kennedy Road from "Residential (Group B)" to "OU" annotated "Petrol Filling Station".
The draft Wan Chai North OZP No. S/H25/1 is now available for public inspection for a period of two months until 19 June 2002, whereas the draft Wan Chai OZP No. S/H5/20 and the draft North Point OZP No. S/H8/16 incorporating the amendments for a period of three weeks until 10 May 2002. These OZPs can be inspected at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board and the Hong Kong District Planning Office at the North Point Government Offices, as well as the Wan Chai District Office and the Eastern District Office.
Any person affected by the draft Wan Chai North OZP, and/or the amendments made to the draft Wan Chai and North Point OZPs may send a written objection to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before 19 June 2002 and 10 May 2002 respectively.
Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei.
End/Friday, Arpil 19, 2002
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