1. The Court of Final Appeal (CFA) handed down its judgment on the Town Planning Board (TPB)'s appeal today. In respect of the presumption against reclamation as contained in the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance, the CFA judgment has substituted the "three tests" laid down earlier on by the High Court with a single test of "overriding public need". We note that there are many similarities between the CFA's explanation on what amounts to an "overriding public need" and the viewpoints expressed by the TPB's Counsel during the CFA enquiry. These include:
(a) Public needs that support reclamation need not be something that the community cannot do without. As a matter of fact, CFA opines that to describe such needs as something which the public cannot do without would be "going much too far";
(b) Public needs that may rebut the presumption against reclamation under the Protection of Harbour Ordinance would include 'the economic, environmental and social needs of the community";
(c) Apart from reclamation, such public needs cannot be met by another reasonable alternative. In considering whether there are reasonable alternatives, all circumstances should be considered, including the economic, environmental and social implications of each alternative as well as the cost, the time and delay involved.
2. We are pleased to note that the single test now laid down by CFA carries a widened definition and coverage. The CFA judgment has removed doubts over reclamation which have prevailed in the community in recent months. It also provides room for the Government and the public to deliberate on the need to strike a balance between protecting the harbour and meeting social, economic and environmental needs.
3. Regarding the CFA judgment that upholds the High Court's decision relating to the Draft Wan Chai North Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), i.e. the TPB should re-consider the relevant OZP, this is in line with our stated intention. In fact, the TPB has already given up the Harbour Park proposal that required reclamation to the extent of two hectares last July in the light of the High Court Judgment and has taken the initiative to request the Government to conduct a comprehensive planning and engineering review of the Wan Chai North reclamation. We will conduct such review expeditiously in accordance with the law with a view to meeting essential needs for transport infrastructure. We will review the Southeast Kowloon reclamation in an equally vigilant and cautious manner.
4. Government is committed to protecting and preserving the Harbour. I have stated time and again that CRIII and the proposed Wan Chai North and Southeast Kowloon reclamations are the only remaining reclamation projects in the harbour.
5. As to future reclamations, we will work out a set of clear operational guidelines on how to comply with the Protection of Harbour Ordinance and the CFA judgment. We will observe the CFA judgment and ensure that reclamation only takes place under special and reasonable circumstances, with the new test laid down met.
6. To address public concern that the use of reclaimed land may be changed, we propose to ensure in the town planning process that reclaimed land could only be used for the intended purpose in respect of which reclamation was approved.
7. On the CRIII project works on which have commenced since February 2003, it should be noted that the judicial review and the CFA judgement are not against the relevant OZP. Despite this, the Government has completed in November last year a review of CRIII. The results illustrate that CRIII can meet the three tests previously laid down by the High Court. Compared with CFA's widened definition, we are confident that the Central reclamation can meet the legal requirements.
8. In any case, we will promptly ascertain, in the light of the CFA judgement, that CRIII meets the single test laid down by the CFA as well as other relevant factors such as the cost and related considerations. We wish to emphasise that CRIII is reasonable and justified to meet essential transport infrastructure needs. It has undergone due and diligent scrutiny. With the extent of reclamation reduced from 32 hectares to 18 hectares, it represents the minimum reclamation.
9. We know that hearing on the CRIII judicial review is due to take place from 9-12 Feb 2004. As always, the Government respects the rule of law. Therefore, we will continue to suspend the marine piling and reclamation works programmed to be carried out under the CRIII project until the legal proceedings have taken their course. However, we note that the CFA has in its judgment given guidance on the timing of judicial review challenge. The CFA has emphasized that there must not be any undue delay in applying for judicial review against any reclamation proposal and that it is of obvious importance that the earliest opportunity for any challenge to a reclamation proposal should be promptly taken or else the courts have the discretion to refuse relief.
10. We wish to point out that CRIII was first proposed in 1998. It has undergone due and diligent scrutiny. Works started in February 2003 whereas the Society for Protection of the Harbour only applied for judicial review against CRIII in September 2003. In view of this, we hope the Society for the Protection of the Harbour will reconsider whether it should continue to proceed with the CRIII judicial review.
Ends/Friday, January 9, 2004
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