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Following is a question by the Hon Chan Han-pan and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):
Question:
The authorities have started the Tung Chung New Town Development Extension Study, and various large-scale infrastructure projects on North Lantau, such as the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), Hong Kong Link Road and Tuen Mun-Chap Lap Kok Link, etc., have commenced one after another. Some civil organisations have pointed out that on the premise of striking a balance between conservation and development, the authorities should improve the internal and external transport links of Lantau Island, make good use of port facilities there to develop "bridgehead economy", develop Tung Chung into a new town with local characteristics which is suitable for living, doing business, working, sightseeing and schooling, and promote the economic development of Hong Kong by capitalising on the synergy generated by the North Lantau development. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as there are views that the traffic flows between the urban areas and Lantau Island will increase substantially upon the commissioning of HZMB, of the details of the plans drawn up by the authorities for improving the road networks concerned, and how future vehicle flows into Hong Kong through HZMB will be diverted to avoid traffic congestions in areas around Tung Chung;
(b) given that the artificial island for HKBCF will have an area of up to 150 hectares, whether the authorities will, apart from the provision of cross boundary facilities, build other facilities, including car parks, shopping malls and hotels, etc. on the island; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) given that the authorities have indicated that they will consider providing additional conference and exhibition facilities, hotels, shopping malls and sightseeing attractions, etc. on Lantau Island to receive visitors coming to Hong Kong through HZMB, what specific plans the authorities have for developing bridgehead economy; whether they have plans to establish an inter-departmental organisations (such as Lantau Island Development Committee) to coordinate the relevant work of various government departments, so as to avoid the situation of a lack of co-ordination among the departments; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
According to the Chief Executive's 2013 Policy Address, Lantau Island, in particular Tung Chung, has a geographical advantage for the development of logistics, tourism and other industries, as well as the creation of new employment opportunities for the local residents. Such development is further facilitated by the progressive implementation of a number of major infrastructure projects, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL). In 2007, the Government published the Concept Plan for Lantau and the overall planning approach is to optimise the use of internal and external transport links and infrastructure, concentrate the development in North Lantau, and create business and employment opportunities, whilst protecting the rural natural environment of scenic and high ecological values in Lantau for nature conservation and visitor uses.
To fully capitalise on the strategic location of Tung Chung and tie in with the Concept Plan for Lantau, we are conducting the Tung Chung New Town Development Extension Study with a view to developing Tung Chung into a more sizable and comprehensively developed new town. We are also exploring the reclamation potential of Siu Ho Wan and Sunny Bay in the Enhancing Land Supply Strategy Study for increasing the land available for development in Lantau. In parallel, we will continue to explore in earnest the development potential of Lantau and areas along the trunk routes in New Territories West. Examples include Tuen Mun Areas 40 and 46 (adjacent to the landing point of the TM-CLKL), which have great development potential. We have commenced relevant planning and engineering studies for a comprehensive replanning of the land uses in these two areas.
To give full play to the benefit of the HZMB in facilitating the "bridgehead economy" in nearby areas, the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) plans to provide convenient public transport services between the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) of HZMB and the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Tung Chung, other parts of the Lantau Island and Tuen Mun. Our aim is to develop the HKBCF of HZMB into a strategic transportation hub on the west of Hong Kong, with a view to providing facilitation to travellers coming to Hong Kong through the HZMB to make use of the commercial and tourism facilities in the local areas (including North Lantau) and thereby creating business and employment opportunities. We are also considering future expansion programme of the HKIA, including a three-runway system. The Airport Authority (AA) is conducting a development strategy study on the North Commercial District (NCD) of the airport island.
On the basis of the information provided by the THB, my reply to the three-part question is as follows:
(a) The HZMB is scheduled for opening in late 2016. To prepare for the commissioning of the HZMB, corresponding planning has been made for the overall transport network to cope with any increased vehicular traffic. The related road planning design includes the new TM-CLKL with its southern section connecting the HKBCF of HZMB and North Lantau Highway by way of a viaduct. This section will be commissioned simultaneously with the HZMB. By then, vehicles travelling between the HKBCF of HZMB and the urban areas or the New Territories can route through this viaduct direct, instead of going through the roads in the Tung Chung area.
The northern section of the TM-CLKL, which will connect the HKBCF of HZMB and Tuen Mun in the form of a sub-sea tunnel, is scheduled for commissioning in late 2018. Upon its completion, the traffic between areas of Northwest New Territories and the HKBCF of HZMB and Lantau (including the HKIA) can make direct use of the sub-sea tunnel. The TM-CLKL will serve the purpose of traffic diversion, helping to alleviate the traffic load of North Lantau Highway, Lantau Link and Tuen Mun Highway. Furthermore, new roads connecting the HKBCF of HZMB and the adjacent HKIA are also included in the relevant road planning design in order to facilitate visitors' travelling.
(b) The Government is building the HKBCF of HZMB by reclamation in waters off the northeast of the HKIA. About 150 hectares of land (Note) will be developed in the entire project for accommodating boundary crossing and transport facilities of the bridge. Among them, the passenger terminal building to be constructed will provide commercial facilities like restaurants, duty free shops, convenient stores, money exchange, electronic teller machines, etc to facilitate visitors.
Currently, the HKBCF of HZMB project does not include any sizable shopping malls or hotels. However, we understand that the Hon Chan Han-pan and the public wish to tap the economic potential arising from the HKBCF artificial island. In this connection, we will give full consideration to options for capitalising on the opportunities brought by the artificial island and the HZMB after its opening, so long as such options do not affect the target of commissioning the HZMB by end 2016.
(c) As mentioned above, we have launched a series of development projects in order to give full play to the benefit of the HZMB and HKBCF in facilitating the "bridgehead economy" in North Lantau and the nearby areas. Like all development and infrastructure projects, the policy bureaux and departments concerned in the Government will maintain close liaison to jointly work out the overall development plan for Lantau. There is well-established mechanism within the Government for co-ordinating all such development planning and projects. The Steering Committee on Land Supply chaired by the Financial Secretary will also co-ordinate the work of the bureaux and departments relating to the overall development and supply of land.
Note: Of which about 130 hectares of reclaimed land is for the HKBCF and about 20 hectares is for the southern landfall of the TM-CLKL.
Ends/Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:00
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