The Government will carefully evaluate the pros and cons of the planning choices presented in the Hong Kong 2030 Study to devise the best roadmap for Hong Kong's future development, the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, said today (December 1).
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong 2030 Roving Exhibition in Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Mr Suen stressed that the Study concerned Hong Kong's development over the next 30 years, aiming at providing a long-term planning framework that lasts beyond the present generation.
Mr Suen called on the public to air their views to help shape the future of Hong Kong.
Mr Suen reiterated that the Government was very much in agreement with public calls for Harbour protection. He has made clear, apart from the reclamation works in Central, Wan Chai North and Southeast Kowloon, there will be no further reclamation plans in the Harbour. The Government will comprehensively review the reclamation plans for Wan Chai and Southeast Kowloon to ensure that the legal requirements are met.
He pointed out that Central Reclamation Phase III was actually one of the two remaining phases of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation which comprised five phases, of which three have been completed.
"There is a need for us to complete these two remaining phases quickly in order to build the Central-Wan Chai Bypass to relieve traffic congestions in Central," Mr Suen said.
"We have recently published a leaflet on Harbour protection to let the public know more clearly the Government's stance and rationale."
The roving exhibition, which publicises the planning choices, will be held until March 2004 to coincide with the public consultation exercise.
Through creative illustrations, it outlines the key assumptions for the future development of Hong Kong, presents options that would meet future land use requirements and highlights the proposed development patterns and other possible variations.
The schedule of the roving exhibition is as follows:
Venue Period
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G/F Lobby, Dec 1 to Dec 5, 2003
Hong Kong Cultural Centre);
Entrance Arena, Dec 9 to Dec 11, 2003
Shatin New Town Plaza;
G/F Lobby, Dec 13 to Dec 20, 2003
North Point Government Offices;
Tung Chung Line, Upper Deck, Dec 21 to Dec 26, 2003
MTR Hong Kong Station;
FG Wing Podium, Jan 2 to Jan 7, 2004
Hong Kong Polytechnic University;
Exhibition Hall, Jan 9 to Jan 17, 2004
Kwai Tsing Theatre;
Exhibition Area, Jan 26 to Jan 31, 2004
Department of Architecture,
5/F Wong Foo Yuen Building,
Chinese University of Hong Kong;
4/F, Wing Lung Bank Building for Feb 2 to Feb 7, 2004
Business Studies,
Shaw Campus,
Hong Kong Baptist University;
Olympia Hall, UG, Feb 9 to Feb 13, 2004
Olympian City 1;
Fantasy Island, Feb 16 to Feb 20, 2004
Maritime Square;
K.K.Leung Concourse, Mar 15 to Mar 20, 2004
University of Hong Kong.
Two public forums on the Study are scheduled for December 13 and December 20, 2003 at the Auditorium, 5/F., North Point Government Offices. There will also be a number of focus meetings and briefings to District Councils, details of which are available on the HK2030 website at https://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/hk2030/index.htm.
Ends/Monday, December 1, 2003
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