Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (June 30):
Question:
The Planning Department has incorporated the recommendations of a consultancy study on Urban Design Guidelines for Hong Kong, completed in 2003, into the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, which stipulate that in developing the waterfront on both sides of Victoria Harbour, blockage of views of the ridgelines by buildings should be avoided, and buildings should be of appropriate scale and facade treatment to avoid creating an impermeable "wall". In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(a) of the respective projected numbers of buildings of 60 to 69 storeys, 70 to 79 storeys and 80 storeys or above on both sides of Victoria Harbour which will be completed in the next three years, and their geographical distribution;
(b) whether they have asked the developers of these buildings to assess at the design stage if the heights and appearances of such buildings satisfy the above criteria; if they have, whether they know the assessment results; if not, of the reasons for that; and
(c) whether they will consider imposing statutory building height restrictions in designated areas so as to preserve the views of the ridgelines along both sides of Victoria Harbour and to avoid creating an impermeable wall along the waterfront?
Reply:
President,
My answers to the three parts of the above question are as follows-
(a) Based on the current assessment of the progress of works, a total of 13 buildings over 60 storeys will be built on both sides of Victoria Harbour in the next three years. Their heights and geographical distribution are as follows:
| 60-69 storeys | 70-79 storeys | 80storeys or above | ||
| (a) | Kowloon Station of Mass Transit Railway Corporation Airport Express, Tsim Sha Tsui | 5 | 1 | |
| (b) | Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan | 1 | 1 | |
| (c) | Sai Wan Ho Ferry Concourse | 5 |
(b) Chapter 11 "Urban Design Guidelines" of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines was published in November 2003. As the building plans of the above-mentioned 13 buildings were approved before that date, the Guidelines are not applicable to these buildings.
(c) Before the relocation of the Kai Tak Airport to Chek Lap Kok in 1998, buildings in most parts of the Victoria Harbour (in particular Kowloon Peninsula) were subject to stringent statutory height restrictions for the airport and related areas. Building height restrictions were also laid down in some land leases. As such, the outline zoning plans ("OZP") normally set no restrictions on the building height.
To protect the views of the ridgelines as well as the Harbour, and to preserve the characteristics of some residential districts after the relocation of the Kai Tak Airport in 1998, the Planning Department has been reviewing the relevant OZPs to set out appropriate building height restrictions. Areas that are subject to building height restrictions include the Central reclamation area, North Point, Mid-levels East, Wan Chai North, South East Kowloon, Hung Hom and Shek Kip Mei. The Planning Department just completed a review on the building height restrictions for Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong business areas. On March 19, 2004, the Town Planning Board promulgated planning guidelines to impose interim building height control measures for these areas. The Planning Department is now conducting a public consultation on the review. After this, the height restrictions will be determined and be incorporated in the relevant OZPs. Following the Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong business areas, the Planning Department will gradually proceed with reviews on other areas along the Victoria Harbour.
Ends/Wednesday, June 30, 2004
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