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Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Rafael Hui, in the Legislative Council today (December 14):
Question:
Regarding the current site of the Central Government Offices, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as the authorities intend to relocate its staff currently working in the Government Secretariat, which comprises the Main Wing, East Wing and West Wing of the Central Government Offices and the Murray Building, to the proposed new Central Government Complex at Tamar, of their plan to dispose of the current site of the Government Secretariat, and whether they will redevelop the site; and
(b) when redeveloping the above site, whether the authorities will impose any restrictions on the land use, building height and development intensity of the site on the grounds of over-intensified development and excessive traffic load in Central at present, as well as the site having a unique cultural and historical value?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Subject to funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, the Tamar development project proposed to be re-launched is expected to commence in 2007 and complete in 2010 at the earliest. As there is considerable time before the relocation of the Government Secretariat (GS) from the Central Government Offices and the Murray Building to Tamar, the Administration considers it inappropriate to decide on the future use of the present site of the GS at this early stage.
(b) According to the approved Central District Outline Zoning Plan No. S/H4/12, the site of the present GS is zoned "Government, Institution or Community". Should there be any proposal for rezoning, the Administration will follow procedures as stipulated in the Town Planning Ordinance, and publish the rezoning proposal in the newspaper and the gazette notice for public inspection and comment. After considered thoroughly views expressed by the District Council, district organizations, professional bodies and individuals, the Town Planning Board will make recommendation to the Executive Council for a final decision on the proposed rezoning. In the process, the Administration will have to assess and provide justifications for the proposed development of the site, having regard to the proposal's planning and engineering feasibility; as well as the impacts on transport, environment and infrastructure. Special aspects of individual proposals, including cultural value considerations, would also be taken into account.
Ends/Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:38
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