To provide more space for economic growth and the improvement of our living environment, the development of underground space and rock caverns are both viable sources of long-term land supply. The two initiatives, proposed in last year’s Policy Address, have seen considerable progress after a year of hard work. Last year, we commenced a territory-wide study on underground space development in the urban districts, and we now plan to launch feasibility studies in the second half of this year on the relocation of three government facilities to rock caverns.
Rock cavern development
In mid-2013, we concluded the Stage 2 Public Engagement on Enhancing Land Supply Strategy: Reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and Rock Cavern Development. The results show that the proposed relocation of three public facilities to rock caverns, namely the Diamond Hill Fresh Water and Salt Water Service Reservoirs, the Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works and the Sham Tseng Sewage Treatment Works, has received wide support in the community.
In view of this, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and the Drainage Services Department (DSD) are preparing to commence feasibility studies in the second half of this year, with a view to relocating the three public facilities to rock caverns. This will release a total of about 10 hectares of land for housing, recreational and open space uses, as well as improving the surrounding living environment. To tie in with the relocation of the Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works, the Government has proposed to carry out small-scale reclamation and construct breakwaters off the coast of the existing site so as to increase the developable land area by 4 hectares to 6.2 hectares, which would not only satisfy the community’s needs for an expanded anchorage area, but also provide a promenade for the enjoyment of the public.
The feasibility study and public engagement on the relocation of the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to rock caverns are almost completed. The proposed relocation, which will release some 28 hectares of land for housing development and other uses, is generally supported by the community. To take forward the relocation project, the DSD is preparing to commence investigation and design work in the second half of this year. In addition, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) will continue to carry out the Study on Long-term Strategy for Cavern Development, due to be completed by the end of next year, with a view to formulating rock cavern master plans and policy guidelines to promote public and private rock cavern development in future. We will also draw up an implementation plan for the systematic relocation of suitable government facilities to rock caverns.
Underground space development
The territory-wide study on underground space development commenced at the end of last year aimed to identify the opportunities and constraints of systematic underground space development in urban areas, develop preliminary conceptual schemes for providing more space for commercial and other uses and enhancing connectivity within the districts by utilising underground space.
Currently, many public and private developments have basements underneath. However, they were built according to individual needs. Without a holistic planning, we could not put our precious underground space into full use. As such, we are preparing to launch a pilot study in the second half of this year on underground space development in four strategic districts, namely Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, Admiralty/Wan Chai North and Tsim Sha Tsui West. The objectives of the study are to formulate a master plan for underground space development in each of these districts, as well as to identify priority underground space development projects in the commercial areas and nearby open space in the districts, for early implementation so as to provide extra floor area for commercial and other uses.
The four districts have been developed in the early days of Hong Kong. They have evolved from traditional commercial-cum-residential areas into commercial, tourism or entertainment hubs along with the rapid development of the economy. Owing to limited land resources in the districts, it is difficult to further provide a substantial amount of commercial space to support their sustainable development. Moreover, the surge in the flow of pedestrians and vehicles has stretched road capacity in these districts to the limit. Although the Government has carried out studies and implemented various mitigation measures, such as construction of footbridges or subways to connect with Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations or buildings, these measures cannot enhance the overall connectivity in the districts.
Since most of the areas in these districts are covered by MTR services, and there are many existing or planned new development/redevelopment projects, development of underground space in these districts could, for example, provide underground shopping malls that would connect with the MTR stations and existing/planned major buildings. This could help to ease traffic pressure above ground and enhancing accessibility to nearby districts. In addition, the large parks or open space, such as Victoria Park and Kowloon Park, in these districts are particularly suitable for developing large-scale underground space for commercial and other uses.
Be it rock cavern development or the pilot study on underground space development, we will take into account the needs of the community and give due consideration to the impact on the existing facilities, the environment and the traffic. We will conduct detailed assessments and consult the relevant stakeholders and the public so as to formulate viable conceptual plans in due course.
23 February, 2014
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