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The Town Planning Board today (July 27) announced proposed amendments to the draft Wan Chai North Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
The draft Wan Chai North OZP No. S/H25/1 was exhibited on April 19, 2002, for public inspection and objection under section 5 of the pre-amended Town Planning Ordinance (the pre-amended Ordinance). On February 27, 2003, one of the objectors lodged a judicial review of the decisions of the Board on the objections. On January 9, 2004, the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) ruled that the presumption against reclamation in the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (PHO) could only be rebutted by establishing ˇ§an overriding public need testˇ¨ and quashed the decisions of the board. The draft OZP No. S/H25/1 and the previous objections to it were remitted to the board for reconsideration.
At the request of the board in October, 2003, and in the light of the CFA judgment, the Government commissioned the Wan Chai Development Phase II Planning and Engineering Review (WDII Review). The WDII Review has investigated the minimum practicable reclamation option for providing the Trunk Road which comprises Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) and Island Eastern Corridor Link, and reprovisioning the affected waterfront facilities that can meet the ˇ§overriding public needˇ¨ test.
On April 3, 2007, the board considered the ˇ§Report on Cogent and Convincing Materials to Demonstrate Compliance with the Overriding Public Need Testˇ¨ for the proposed reclamation for WDII and agreed that the Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP) prepared under the WDII Review could serve as the basis for amending the draft OZP No. S/H25/1. On April 20, 2007, the board considered the proposed amendments to the draft OZP No. S/H25/1 prepared on the basis of the RODP.
The board gave preliminary and further consideration to the previous valid objections on April 20, 2007, and June 29, 2007, respectively, and decided to propose amendments to meet/partially meet the previous objections. On July 20, 2007, the board agreed that the proposed amendments be notified under section 6(7) of the pre-amended ordinance.
The proposed amendments mainly reflect the reduction of the Planning Scheme Area due to the substantial reduction of the proposed reclamation from 26.4 hectare to 5.7 hectare. The proposed reclamation is the minimum extent required to accommodate the CWB which would be in tunnel form in the OZP area.
The proposed zoning amendments mainly reflect the proposed waterfront open spaces in Wan Chai, around the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS) and at the existing northern and eastern breakwaters of CBTS; the proposed waterfront related commercial and leisure uses and the proposed public waterfront promenade and water recreation related uses to add vibrancy and variety to the waterfront. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club site would not be affected and is rezoned for sports and recreation club use. To enhance pedestrian connection to the waterfront, three landscaped decks are proposed west of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Extension, across Hung Hing Road and connecting with Victoria Park.
In addition, the proposed amendments reflect the proposed sites for Government, institution and community (GIC) facilities including those for reprovisioning the Harbour Road Sports Centre, Wan Chai Swimming Pool and Wan Chai North public transport interchange south of Hung Hing Road; reprovisioning of the salt water pumping station and the future expansion of Wan Chai East Sewage Screening Plant at Wan Shing Street; the possible reprovisioning of the floating Tin Hau Temple at southeastern corner of CBTS; and the proposed coach park near Convention Avenue. The revised OZP also provides site for reprovisioning the Wan Chai Ferry Pier on new reclamation.
The proposed amendments also include land reservation for the railway station facilities and ventilation building of the proposed North Hong Kong Island Line and Sha Tin to Central Link, and for the CWB exhaust vent at the existing eastern breakwater of CBTS .
Correspondingly, there are proposed amendments to the Notes to incorporate, amongst others, building height restrictions in all new developments, gross floor area restrictions in some ˇ§Other Specified Usesˇ¨ (ˇ§OUˇ¨) sites and the requirement for planning permission for the exterior design of the developments within the ˇ§OUˇ¨ sites along the waterfront.
The Amendment Plan No. O/S/H25/1-B and the proposed amendments to the Notes and Explanatory Statement will be available for public inspection from today (July 27) to August 10, 2007, during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Hong Kong District Planning Office, the Wan Chai District Office and the Eastern District Office.
Between July 27, 2007 and August 10, 2007, people can submit written objection to the proposed amendments and the objections shall be sent to the Secretary of the Board.
Copies of the draft Wan Chai North OZP together with the Amendment Plan No. O/S/H25/1-B are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of both plans can be viewed at the board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/.
Ends/Friday, July 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:55
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