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In response to media enquiries about an environmental concern group's comments saying that the public housing estates of the Housing Authority (HA) has created a'wall effect', the spokesperson for the HA has the following remarks:
To ensure that our projects will not impose a negative impact on the neighbourhood, the HA has conducted environmental design studies for all of its new projects in the planning and design stages since 2004. Same studies including micro climate, daylight, air ventilation and visual impact assessments of the Un Chau Estate Phase 5 project have also been conducted. Results showed that no 'wall effect' will be created.
Un Chau Estate Phase 5 comprises three residential blocks and a two-storey annex block. The three blocks of 27, 33 and 40 storeys respectively are stepped in height. Enough space among individual blocks has been reserved to allow an adequate width as wind paths. These special features plus the semi-open car-port that forms a major part of the lower part of the annex block are conducive to wind circulations at the street level.
The Un Chau Estate scheme has optimized all the factors including noise mitigation, site constraints and opinions of the local community.
In response to the request of the District Council to enlarge the green zone of Un Chau Estate, the Housing Department (HD) has sought the approval of the Transport Department to close a section of Wing Lung Street permanently. The closed area will be earmarked for a sitting area for the estate.
It is the responsibility of the HA to optimize the development of land resources to meet the public's aspirations on public housing developments. The HD strives to create a sustainable, healthy and comfortable living environment for public housing tenants with a balanced solution meeting various constraints.
Ends/Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:47
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