At its meeting today (July 4), the Land and Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) was briefed by the Government on the preliminary development proposal of sites around Hung Hom Station and its waterfront areas, and the proposed scheme to be launched jointly by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Education Bureau (EDB) to encourage the market to convert commercial buildings into student hostels.
      
     Members generally welcomed the Government's proposal to transform the sites around Hung Hom Station and its waterfront areas into a new harbourfront landmark through replanning, thereby enriching the public and tourists' enjoyment of the Victoria Harbour. While agreeing that commercial elements such as retail and dining should be provided in the development, Members suggested that land use flexibility should be maximised to allow the future developer(s) to adjust the mix of different types of commercial use in the future having regard to the prevailing market environment. 
      
     Members appreciated that the proposal would improve the pedestrian connectivity in both the north-south (from hinterland to waterfront) and east-west (between Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui East) directions, but suggested further studies be conducted to explore further strengthening connectivity, say with other developed areas of Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui East that were currently outside the scope of the study, and to incorporate innovative urban design elements. On the utilisation of water body, Members were in support of the idea of providing yacht berthing facilities at the water body adjacent to the former Hung Hom Freight Yard site to address the shortage of berths. Members also recommended the Government consider the need for formulating more facilitating measures to complement the development proposal to better promote yacht tourism and facilitate the development of the yacht industry, and to ensure that the general public would be able to enjoy the harbourfront. 
      
     The Government will take into account Members' recommendations and the feedback received during the consultation period to be ended in early July when refining the proposal and finalising the detailed development parameters. The aim is to commence the relevant statutory procedures in the second half of 2026.
      
     On the Government's proposal to streamline development control procedures to encourage conversion of commercial buildings into student hostels, Members welcomed the proposed facilitation measures to boost the supply of hostel accommodation to enable Hong Kong to better grasp opportunities ahead to reinforce its position as an international post-secondary education hub. These measures include expanding the definition of 'Hotel' use under the planning regime to cover eligible student hostels under the proposed scheme; and providing concessions for eligible student hostels converted from commercial buildings with regard to plot ratio, site coverage, and exempted gross floor area, etc. Members considered the proposed scheme timely and relevant, and would leverage market forces through streamlining development procedures to boost hostel supply in the short run on the one hand, and facilitating more effective use of the commercial building stock currently in the market on the other.
      
     The Government will continue to brief the trade and stakeholders on the proposed scheme, which is expected to be rolled out in mid-July this year.
      
     In addition, Members were briefed by the Lands Department on the latest measures to enhance transparency and provide more certainty with regard to the processing of applications for lease modifications, land exchange, private treaty grant and other land transactions. Members welcomed the Lands Department's initiative to set out time targets for certain key steps in the processing of land transactions.

Ends/Friday, July 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:56

NNNN