The following is the question raised by the Hon. Christine Loh and the written reply given by the Acting Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Patrick Lau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Administration inform this Council whether there is a proposal to build a cruise liner pier at North Point; if so, whether, in considering the proposal, the Administration will take or has taken into account the requirement to protect and preserve the Victoria Harbour under the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531)?
Reply:
Madam President,
In March 1998, a private developer submitted a rezoning request to the Town Planning Board (the Board) to rezone a site at Oil Street, North Point, from various zonings to "Comprehensive Development Area" to allow for a hotel and cruise terminal development, and to rezone a small portion of the Victoria Harbour abutting the waterfront between Oil Street and City Garden as "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Pier" to allow for the development of a cruise pier.
In considering this proposal, the Administration has carefully weighed the public benefits of the proposed project to Hong Kong against the preservation of the part of the central harbour that may be affected, as required by the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance. The Administration notes the findings of the "Study on the Cruise Market of Hong Kong" conducted by the Hong Kong Tourist Association that with the growing cruise market within the region, Hong Kong needs new and more modern cruise facilities with higher standard and range of passenger and ship servicing facilities in the medium term if not to lose out to our regional competitors as a hub to the world's progressively modernized cruise line fleets. We also agree to the Study's finding that new cruise facilities would contribute significantly to our tourism industry and to our economy as a whole. Against these benefits is that a small area of the central harbour (about 0.59 hectare) along the waterfront of North Point would be affected. However, it should be noted that the cruise pier is proposed to be built on a piled structure. The intrusion into the harbour is also minimised by the proposed positioning of the cruise pier parallel to the existing waterfront.
As an essential part of HKTA's Study, a territory-wide site search was conducted and all of the top three favourable sites identified fall within the central harbour. The Government has also conducted a more focused site search along the entire north shore of the Hong Kong Island and having taken into account all the relevant considerations (e.g. land availability, land-use, marine impact, etc.) concluded that the site in North Point proposed by the private developer is the most suitable site.
The Administration therefore supports the proposal, in principle, subject to the project proponent's proving to the satisfaction of the Government that any adverse environmental impact of the proposed pier together with its associated dredging work on the harbour would be acceptable under the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.
The rezoning request was considered by the Metro Planning Committee (MPC) of the Board with knowledge of the legal requirements of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance. Having deliberated carefully the pros and cons of the proposal, the MPC agreed, in principle, to seek a directive from the Chief Executive to amend the relevant Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) as proposed by the private developer.
The Planning Department is currently preparing amendments to relevant draft OZP for consideration by the MPC prior to its exhibition for public comments. Subject to public comments, the Chief Executive in Council would make a final decision on the proposed change of land use upon the advice of the Board.
End/Wednesday, January 13, 1999
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