LCQ12 : Proposal on the Hong Kong international medicine
botanical garden
********************************************************* Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 19) :
Question:
Some academics have proposed to establish a Hong Kong international medicine botanical garden in Wu Kau Tang to promote the development of Chinese medicine in the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has studied the feasibility of the above proposal; if so, of the study results;
(b) whether it will consult local residents and the organisations concerned on the proposal, and whether and how they may participate in the items of the proposal, including the construction of a Chinese medicine museum, an eco-tour centre, a centre for Chinese medicine treatment and the elderly, a leisure and entertainment centre, residential units, etc; and
(c) given that the proposal involves about 100 hectares of land, whether the authorities have assessed the impact of the proposal on the ecology of the area, and how they can ensure that the proposal will be consistent with the Government's policy initiative on sustainable development?
Reply:
Madam President,
Following the announcement of the New Nature Conservation Policy in November 2004, we launched a Pilot Scheme on Public-private Partnership (PPP) to enhance the ecological value of 12 priority conservation sites. Under the Scheme, development on an agreed scale will be allowed at the less ecologically sensitive portions of a site provided that the developer undertakes to conserve and manage the rest of the site on a long-term basis.
Upon close of the six-month application period on 31 May 2005, six PPP applications had been received, including one at Wu Kau Tang. As a follow-up, the Government has set up an Inter-departmental Task Force to examine the proposals on the basis of the following criteria:
(i) the benefits that the proposal will bring in enhancing the conservation of the site concerned and in better achieving the nature conservation objectives;
(ii) the sustainability of the proposal, taking into account the proponent's commitment to the long-term conservation of the site, the participation of landowners and local communities, as well as the reliability and enforceability of the agreements, etc;
(iii) the capability, credibility and track record of the proponent;
(iv) the readiness of the proposal for implementation; and
(v) resource implications for the Government.
The Government will only consider proposals which are accompanied by a comprehensive and solid conservation plan as pilot projects. In taking forward the selected pilot proposals, we will work with the project proponents to consult the relevant stakeholders, including the local communities, the Advisory Council on the Environment and the Town Planning Board. We will announce the outcome of the PPP applications, including the one at Wu Kau Tang, once we have completed the evaluation process.
botanical garden
********************************************************* Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 19) :
Question:
Some academics have proposed to establish a Hong Kong international medicine botanical garden in Wu Kau Tang to promote the development of Chinese medicine in the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has studied the feasibility of the above proposal; if so, of the study results;
(b) whether it will consult local residents and the organisations concerned on the proposal, and whether and how they may participate in the items of the proposal, including the construction of a Chinese medicine museum, an eco-tour centre, a centre for Chinese medicine treatment and the elderly, a leisure and entertainment centre, residential units, etc; and
(c) given that the proposal involves about 100 hectares of land, whether the authorities have assessed the impact of the proposal on the ecology of the area, and how they can ensure that the proposal will be consistent with the Government's policy initiative on sustainable development?
Reply:
Madam President,
Following the announcement of the New Nature Conservation Policy in November 2004, we launched a Pilot Scheme on Public-private Partnership (PPP) to enhance the ecological value of 12 priority conservation sites. Under the Scheme, development on an agreed scale will be allowed at the less ecologically sensitive portions of a site provided that the developer undertakes to conserve and manage the rest of the site on a long-term basis.
Upon close of the six-month application period on 31 May 2005, six PPP applications had been received, including one at Wu Kau Tang. As a follow-up, the Government has set up an Inter-departmental Task Force to examine the proposals on the basis of the following criteria:
(i) the benefits that the proposal will bring in enhancing the conservation of the site concerned and in better achieving the nature conservation objectives;
(ii) the sustainability of the proposal, taking into account the proponent's commitment to the long-term conservation of the site, the participation of landowners and local communities, as well as the reliability and enforceability of the agreements, etc;
(iii) the capability, credibility and track record of the proponent;
(iv) the readiness of the proposal for implementation; and
(v) resource implications for the Government.
The Government will only consider proposals which are accompanied by a comprehensive and solid conservation plan as pilot projects. In taking forward the selected pilot proposals, we will work with the project proponents to consult the relevant stakeholders, including the local communities, the Advisory Council on the Environment and the Town Planning Board. We will announce the outcome of the PPP applications, including the one at Wu Kau Tang, once we have completed the evaluation process.
Ends/Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:56
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