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Following is a question by the Hon James To and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
Question:
It is learnt that two sites at Hoi Fai Road and Hoi Fan Road in Olympic have been zoned "Open Space" for years. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has planned to develop parks on the two sites, but the related works have yet to commence. Regarding "Open Space" sites, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the latest progress of the works projects in relation to the aforesaid two sites; when the authorities intend to submit the relevant funding proposals to the Finance Committee of this Council and when the works are expected to commence and complete;
(2) as I have learned that works on the Hoi Fan Road site cannot commence because LCSD has not received the layout plan from the Architectural Services Department, of the number of similar cases at the moment;
(3) of the current number of "Open Space" sites in Hong Kong the end-use of which has been confirmed but the related works have yet to commence; the lot number, area, the end-use, the number of years lapsed since the decision on the land use was made and the reasons for not commencing the related works, set out in a table;
(4) among the sites in (3), of the number of those to be used as a park in the end; among such sites, the number of those which have been handed over to LCSD; the respective lot numbers and handover dates of such park sites, set out in a table;
(5) whether LCSD has drawn up any performance pledge on the period of time within which it must complete the works after possession of sites for park development; if it has, of the details; if not, whether it has considered drawing up such performance pledge;
(6) whether it has plans to change the land use of some park sites on which the works have yet to commence; if it does, set out the details in a table; and
(7) of the number of sites rezoned from "Open Space" to other uses in the past three years, and set out the respective lot numbers and new planned uses of these sites in a table?
Reply:
President,
My reply to various parts of the question upon consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB) is as follows:
(1) For the open space at Hoi Fai Road, the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) has revised the design of the project in the light of the views of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council (YTMDC) and the Harbourfront Commission. To take the project forward, the Administration will seek funding in accordance with the established procedures for government public works.
As regards the open space at Hoi Fan Road, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has consulted the YTMDC Community Building Committee on the scope of works of the project. Having completed a technical feasibility study for the project, ArchSD will engage consultants for the design work. Upon completion of the outline design, LCSD will consult the YTMDC. Subject to the progress of the design work and consultation, the Administration will seek funding in accordance with the established procedures for government public works to take the project forward.
(2) According to the procedures for public works, any development of a recreational area on a site zoned "Open Space" has to undergo a technical feasibility study and be confirmed as feasible before the design work can commence. Apart from the project at Hoi Fan Road, five LCSD projects have been confirmed as technically feasible and the design work is in progress. Of these projects, ArchSD has started design work for the open space project at Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade, and will soon engage consultants to design the harbourfront promenade adjacent to the Hong Kong Children's Hospital. As for the remaining three projects, LCSD is following up on arrangements for the design work with ArchSD.
(3) According to information from the Planning Department, on statutory plans there are currently about 1,200 sites zoned "Open Space" with a total area of about 2,130 hectares. It should be noted that sites planned for open space use may not necessarily be zoned as "Open Space" on the statutory plans, as they also include facilities such as parks within public or private residential developments. For sites planned for public open space or other relevant facilities, the bureau or department concerned will determine the implementation schedule having regard to considerations such as the demand for such facilities (including parks), demographic changes in the district, and the funding required for construction and operation.
The Government does not have comprehensive statistics on individual sites planned for open space use, the development of which has yet to start under the purview of different bureaux or departments.
(4) and (5) Generally speaking, at the planning stage of developing a park, LCSD does not need to obtain possession of the site concerned, and the site will be put to temporary use by one or more relevant departments. Only when construction work is about to start will LCSD take possession of the site and hand it over via ArchSD to the contractor engaged by the government to start work. The expected duration of the construction work varies, depending on factors including the scope, design, scale and complexity of the works. The Administration provides details of the anticipated construction schedules of individual projects in the papers when it submits funding proposals to the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council.
Other than the site for open space at Hoi Fai Road, which has been handed over to LCSD and is temporarily used as a plant nursery, LCSD is not in possession of any of the open space sites mentioned in Parts (1) and (2) where works have yet to commence.
(6) To meet the development needs of the community, the Government carries out land use reviews from time to time to ensure the optimisation of land resources, and may re-zone suitable "Government, Institution or Community" sites, "Open Space" sites and other government sites for other uses that meet more pressing community needs. Concerned bureaux and departments are consulted during the reviews, and if they consider that there is a need to re-provide existing or planned facilities, suitable sites will be sought, or co-location of facilities within the proposed development will be considered. Relevant District Councils are also consulted on re-zoning proposals and the arrangements for the facilities concerned.
Currently, there are five sites across the territory where a re-zoning from "Open Space" to other land uses is in progress, on which the relevant District Councils have been consulted and which are pending Town Planning Board consideration. Details of the sites are at Annex 1.
(7) In the past three years (i.e., from June 2011 to May 2014), a total of 16 sites have been subject to re-zoning from "Open Space" to other land uses. Details of the sites are at Annex 2.
Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:31
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