Hong Kong 2006 - Land, Public Works and Utilities

Construction works and feasibility studies on new urban development areas generally follow the broad pattern of land use and guidelines in the Metroplan, and integrate with the replanning and redevelopment of adjoining old areas. The Civil Engineering and Development Department is implementing several site formation projects to provide new land for growth, and to provide or upgrade facilities to allow for the redevelopment of the old and run-down areas.

The Central and Wan Chai Reclamation extends along the waterfront from Sheung Wan to the east of the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. Three of the five reclamation phases have been completed. They are the Central Reclamation Phases I and II, and the Wan Chai Reclamation Phase I. The Central Reclamation Phase III is under construction and Wan Chai Development Phase II project is under review.

The Cyberport, Hong Kong's information technology flagship, is a development on 24 hectares of land at Telegraph Bay in the southern district of Hong Kong Island. It is a comprehensive development providing 95 000 square metres of Grade A office accommodation for information technology (IT) and IT-related companies, a shopping arcade and a five-star hotel providing 173 rooms. The commercial portion of the Cyberport was completed in June 2004. The residential development will be completed in 2008 providing about 2 800 units for sale on the open market.

The West Kowloon Reclamation provides a total of 340 hectares of land for strategic transport links, housing and commercial development as well as district and local community facilities. Major infrastructural works are substantially completed while remaining road works will be taken forward in phases to tie in with the programme for local development.

The Planning Department commissioned the Kai Tak Planning Review in July 2004 with the purpose of formulating a new development concept and a preliminary outline development plan for Kai Tak. A comprehensive public participation programme has been undertaken with the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee in a review to foster public consensus through an open and informed process.

A Preliminary Outline Development Plan for Kai Tak was prepared, based on which a new draft Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan was formulated and exhibited in November 2006 under section 5 of the Town Planning Ordinance for public inspection for two months. Subject to completion of the statutory planning procedure, the Outline Zoning Plan will provide the statutory planning framework to proceed with the Kai Tak Development. The Kai Tak Engineering Review, covering detailed engineering and environmental studies, is scheduled to start in early 2007.

Another Kowloon scheme, the Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley development project, will provide a 20-hectare site in Kwun Tong for public rental housing for 35 500 people, seven schools and open space. The project will be completed in stages from 2008 to 2010 to dovetail with a housing and school development programme.