Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):
Question:
The Planning Department commissioned consultants in 2001 to carry out the Focus Study on Aberdeen Harbour, with a view to establishing a coherent and robust planning framework for optimizing development potentials within the Aberdeen Harbour area. During the study period, the consultants had consulted various organizations and individuals, including the District Council(s) concerned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) it will expeditiously brief the relevant District Council(s) on the proposed planning framework formulated on the basis of the study results; and
(b) it has any plan to implement the proposed planning framework; if so, of the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply
Madam President:
The consultant has completed the first-stage of the Study and proposed a development framework and conceptual development option for the Aberdeen Harbour. The Planning Department carried out a public consultation exercise last year and has been working out a proposed planning framework.
Nevertheless, given that a study on the long-term development of the Ocean Park is being conducted by the Government and the Ocean Park Corporation, and that the developments of Aberdeen Harbour and the Ocean Park are inseparably linked, the Government plans to help the Ocean Park to formulate a long-term development strategy before implementing the planning framework of Aberdeen Harbour. Once the study is finished, the Government would brief the Southern District Council on the proposal. A timetable would also be drawn up for its implementation.
In a briefing for the Southern District Council on the latest progress of the Focus Study on Aberdeen Harbour on 9 January 2003, the Planning Department outlined the projects proposed by the Study and unaffected by the future development of the Ocean Park, which were supported by the Councillors. These projects include local improvement and landscaping works, some of which are under detailed design and are expected to commence in the short to medium term.
End/Wednesday, May 14, 2003
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