An exhibition entitled "City Impression@Hidden Land Resources", jointly presented by the Planning Department (PlanD) and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), will be held at the City Gallery at 3 Edinburgh Place, Central, from tomorrow (July 20) until September 28. Visitors are invited to explore the quest for rock cavern development and former quarry sites in Hong Kong.

     Speaking at the exhibition's opening ceremony at the City Gallery today (July 19), the Director of Planning, Mr Ling Kar-kan, said, "PlanD and the CEDD have been closely collaborating to carry out various inter-departmental planning and engineering studies including the highlights in the exhibition - planning study on former quarry sites and the study on long-term strategy for cavern development."

     He said that the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines provide planning guidelines for rock cavern development by stating a series of land uses with potential for development in rock caverns, namely retail and commercial uses; industrial uses like storage/warehousing; and government, institution and community uses such as building sewage/water treatment plants, service reservoirs, refuse transfer facilities, sports halls and civic centres. Some suitable government facilities can be relocated into caverns to release more valuable above-ground spaces.

     The Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Daniel Chung, said at the opening ceremony, "Rock cavern development is highly suitable in Hong Kong given its geological and geographical setting. To meet social needs, developing rock caverns in a strategic manner could bring about opportunities in the long-term planning and development of Hong Kong as a whole."

     To tie in with the exhibition, a seminar on the development of hidden land resources will be held at the City Gallery to enable the public to understand the creative planning solutions for beneficial after-use of ex-quarries and the rock cavern development.

     For more information about the exhibition and activities, please visit the City Gallery's website at www.citygallery.gov.hk or call 3102 1242.

Ends/Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:40

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