The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Rafael Hui, reported the findings of the public consultation and the next steps for the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) project at the Legislative Council (Legco) special House Committee meeting today (October 7).
Mr Hui said that to address major areas of public concern and respond to public views, the Government would introduce new development parameters and conditions to the WKCD project under the current development framework.
The WKCD project has been widely discussed in the community, and the Government has conducted a six-month public consultation exercise and listened to the views of the Legco, District Councils and concerned groups. Findings of the public consultation show that the general public support the development of an integrated arts and cultural district in West Kowloon, and believe that the project will enrich the arts and cultural life of Hong Kong, promote tourism and create jobs. Most respondents also believe the Government should take forward at least one of the three screened-in proposals, and look forward to an early implementation of the project.
"On the basis of these public views, the Government believes we should make the best use of what we have done under the current development framework and continue with that process to develop a world-class arts and cultural district. It will be a meeting point for the local and international arts communities, and will enhance our international image and status," Mr Hui said.
While supporting the early implementation of the WKCD project, the public also expressed views on various aspects of the project during the consultation period. The Government considered that certain views should be addressed as priority areas: (1) abolishing the "single-development" approach; (2) lowering development intensity and reducing commercial and residential buildings; (3) ensuring sufficient funding for the sustainable operation of arts and cultural facilities; and (4) establishing an independent body to take forward the WKCD project.
To address the first three views, the Government proposes to introduce new development parameters and conditions on the development approach, development intensity and development mix, and the establishment of a trust fund. These include:
* Abolishing the "single-development" approach by requiring the successful proponent, to carve out, under the current development framework, at least 50% of the commercial and residential gross floor area at the WKCD site. Other developers will be able to bid for those carved-out portions under an open and fair process;
* Setting the maximum plot ratio at 1.81;
* Capping the residential development at no more than 20% of the total gross floor area (at most 145,000 square metres);
* Specifying a minimum net operating floor area for core arts and cultural facilities of 185,000 square metres (equivalent to a gross floor area of 214,000 square metres, i.e. at least 30% of the total gross floor area of the WKCD); and
* Requiring the successful proponent to pay $30 billion for the establishment of a trust fund to ensure that there are sufficient funds for the sustainable operation of the WKCD.
Having briefed the Legco, the Government will consult the three screened-in proponents on the new development parameters and conditions and invite them to respond by the end of January next year. The Government will, at the same time, sound out the Town Planning Board (TPB) for initial views on the concerned development parameters. Subject to the responses of the screened-in proponents, and views of the Legco, TPB and the public, the Government will develop the new parameters and conditions into specific requirements and invite screened-in proponents to revise their proposals accordingly under the current development framework.
In response to concerns of the public and the Legco, the Government also proposes the establishment of an independent statutory body to take over the WKCD project from the Government at a suitable time. Subject to the responses of the screened-in proponents on the new development parameters and conditions and the views of the Legco, the Government will study how the body should be established and accord priority to the drafting of the enabling legislation.
"We are open with regard to the composition, functions, etc, of the statutory body to be established for the WKCD. We envisage that the body will be broadly based and representative. The Legco, professional groups, arts and cultural sectors and various related organisations will have the opportunity to take part in the work of the statutory body through different channels," Mr Hui said.
"If the screened-in proponents respond positively to the new development parameters and conditions and are willing to continue to participate in the WKCD development, we aim to consult the Legco and the public on the specific proposals for the establishment of the statutory body in the second quarter of next year, with a view to submitting the concerned draft legislation for scrutiny by Legco before the end of the current legislative session. Depending on the progress of the scrutiny, the relevant legislation is expected to be endorsed at the end of next year and the statutory body to be established in early 2007.
"We believe that the additional development parameters and conditions, as well as the proposed establishment of an independent statutory body, will effectively address the public views and help shape the WKCD to meet the community's expectations, allowing the project to be taken forward on the basis of public opinion," Mr Hui said.
The Government conducted a large-scale public consultation on the WKCD screened-in proposals from December 16 last year to June 30 this year. To enhance the credibility of the consultation exercise, the Government commissioned the Public Policy Research Institute of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to carry out three random telephone polls during the consultation period to triangulate public views collected from different channels. The Institute was also commissioned to conduct an independent and comprehensive analysis of views received during the public consultation, including more than 33,000 comment cards and over 600 written submissions, as well as views expressed by different sectors at public forums, Legco, District Councils, etc.
The Government also released today the Institute's report on the analysis of public views. The major findings of the analysis are attached. The report and compendium of public views have been uploaded onto the WKCD website (www.hplb.gov.hk/wkcd), and will be available for public inspection from tomorrow (October 8) to December 7 at District Offices in Wan Chai, Yau Tsim Mong, Kwun Tong, North and Yuen Long, as well as some of the venues managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Detailed information can be viewed at the WKCD website.
Ends/Friday, October 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 20:47
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