Following is a speech by the Secretary for Planning and Lands, Mr John C Tsang, in moving a motion on the Buildings Ordinance (Chapter 123) in the Legislative Council today (June 26):
Madam President,
I move the resolution standing in my name in the Agenda.
The motion seeks to amend the description of Scheduled Area No. 3 in the Fifth Schedule to the Buildings Ordinance to refer to the plans dated May 29, 2002, which were signed by the Secretary for Planning and Lands and deposited in the Land Registry.
The railway protection areas are those within 30 metres from the edges of Mass Transit Railway structures. By virtue of section 41(3) and 41(3A)(f) respectively of the Ordinance, ground investigation and underground drainage works carried out in the railway protection areas require the Building Authority's prior approval of plans and consent for their commencement. This is necessary to ensure the safety of the structures and hence the integrity of the Mass Transit Railway system.
The plans to which the description of Scheduled Area No. 3 now refers reflect the position up to 1998. Since then there have been two changes. First, to relieve congestion at the Quarry Bay Station, the Kwun Tong Line was extended to the North Point Station, which has become an interchange station. Second, the construction works for the Tseung Kwan O Extension Line have been completed. We have, therefore, prepared a new set of plans to set out the correct railway protection areas. All these new plans have already been deposited in the Land Registry and are available for public inspection.
I invite Members to support this motion in order to ensure continued protection of the Mass Transit Railway system.
Madam President, I beg to move.
End/Wednesday, June 26, 2002
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