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Following is a question by the Hon Samson Tam and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, in the Legislative Council today (June 23):
Question:
Regarding the development of data centres in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that the "Consultancy Study on the Development of Data Centres in Hong Kong – Final Report" published by the Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee of the Government in May last year points out that Hong Kong should target at developing itself into a hub for high-end data centres, of the progress in developing data services in Hong Kong since the publication of the report;
(b) of the number of land applications received by the authorities in the past three years for developing data centres, the average time taken to handle each application, and what concrete measures the authorities have put in place to assist the industry in expediting the setting up of data centres; and
(c) given that the authorities intend to develop innovative technologies in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen river-loop area, whether they will also consider developing data centres and related value-added services in that area; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Regarding the questions raised by the Hon Samson Tam, my reply is as follows:
(a) The Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee discussed the "Consultancy Report on the Development of Data Centres in Hong Kong" in May last year. The Committee generally echoed the conclusion of the report that Hong Kong was a desirable place for high-end data centres and called for a more comprehensive and proactive policy on data centre development.
In this connection, we are commissioning an economic benefit analysis to study into the wider economic benefits that data centre development may bring to Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Government has been working with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) to support those companies intending to establish data centres in the Industrial Estates (IEs). Invest Hong Kong has been providing free, customised and confidential one-stop shop services to potential data centre investors from overseas. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will also be active in promoting Hong Kong to companies considering establishing data centres in the Asia Pacific region.
(b) Under the planning and land regimes, data centres are normally permitted as part of the commercial and/or business uses. The Town Planning Board and Lands Department have not received specific applications for data centre sites in the past three years.
The IEs, managed by the HKSTPC, offer venues for the development of high-end data centres. Data centre projects meeting the admission criteria of IEs (including the requirement that their activities cannot be carried out in an ordinary multi-storey industrial or commercial building) can apply for admission. In the past three years, two new data centres were built in the IEs.
(c) The Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments' initial view is that higher education could be the leading use in the development of the Lok Ma Chau Loop, to be complemented with high-tech research and development facilities as well as cultural and creative industries. On the basis of this, the Planning and Engineering Study on Development of the Lok Ma Chau Loop was commissioned jointly by the two governments in June 2009. According to the current progress, public engagement is scheduled to commence in 2010 with a view to consulting the public, concerned stakeholders, organisations and committees including the Legislative Council on the Preliminary Outline Development Plan (PODP). The views received will serve as input for refining the proposals of the PODP. The proposal of developing data centres and relevant value-added services will be considered together with the views collected in the public engagement in finalising the themed development of higher education, high-tech research as well as cultural and creative industries in the Loop.
Ends/Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:03
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