Wong Chuk Hang Business Area
**********************************************************
The Planning Department today (September 15) launched a two-month public consultation exercise on the building height restriction proposals for Wong Chuk Hang Business Area.
A spokesman for the Planning Department said the principal objective for imposing building height restrictions in Wong Chuk Hang Business Area was to reinforce the intrinsic character and natural attributes of Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau as a whole.
The spokesman noted that the area was undergoing gradual transformation from being industrial to business in nature. In view of this, there is a need to formulate building height control to ensure that the transformation does not negatively impact on the visual quality of the area.
"Taking into account the natural topography of the area, two main height bands are proposed - buildings to the south of Wong Chuk Road should be restricted to a maximum building height of 120mPD, and those to its north should be limited to 140mPD," the spokesman said.
He added that the intention was to achieve a stepped height profile and a more discernible townscape leading down to the waterfront.
"Based on the comments received, the building height restrictions would be further refined before being incorporated into the statutory town plan."
The Planning Department will organise a public forum to gauge public views on the proposed height restrictions in mid-October. Details of the proposals are presented in a consultation digest posted on the Planning Department's website: www.pland.gov.hk. Hard copies of the digest are also available at the following locations:
(a) Planning Information Enquiry Counter, 17/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point;
(b) Hong Kong District Planning Office, 14/F, North Point Government Offices, North Point;
(c) Planning Information Enquiry Counter, 14/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1, Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin.
(d) Public Enquiry Service Counter, Southern District Office, G/F, Ocean Court, 3 Aberdeen Praya road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, September 15, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:16
NNNN
