In response to media enquiries on the public engagement activities of the North East New Territories New Development Areas (NENT NDAs) Planning and Engineering Study, the spokesperson for the Planning Department (PlanD) and Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) stressed today (August 28) that the Study comprises a three-stage Public Engagement (PE) programme to facilitate public participation in the entire planning process. In each stage of the PE, we have endeavoured to reach out to all concerned parties and stakeholders as widely as possible, and use multiple channels to disseminate information about the Study.
The spokesperson said, “In the last two stages of PE, views collected on the Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling (PC/TKL) NDA were mainly about local issues including transport and planning for open storage uses, etc”.
The objective of implementing the NENT NDAs is to cater for the population growth and the long-term demand for housing and economic development. The CEDD and PlanD are now undertaking a planning and engineering study to establish a planning and development framework for the Kwu Tung North (KTN), Fanling North and PC/TKL NDAs and to formulate development plans and implementation strategy.
The Stages 1 and 2 PEs were completed in early 2009 and early 2010 respectively. We consulted the relevant statutory bodies (including the Legislative Council Panel on Development, North District Council (DC), Fanling District Rural Committee (RC), Sheung Shui District RC and Ta Kwu Ling District RC), professional bodies, local people and other stakeholders. More than 30 briefings were held. A community workshop and a public forum on the vision for the NENT NDAs and Preliminary Outline Development Plans of the NDAs were held in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The community workshop and public forum were attended by about 190 and 500 people respectively. The collected views and proposals have been uploaded onto the Study website (www.nentnda.gov.hk).
The Stage 3 PE commenced in mid June 2012. So far, we have provided about 30 briefings to various parties and stakeholders, including Town Planning Board, Advisory Council on the Environment, Heung Yee Kuk, North DC, relevant RCs, green groups, local people and other relevant organisations.
We have publicised the three-stage PE through different channels including newspaper advertisements and delivering letters and posters to relevant parties, and invited the public to provide their comments. In addition, a roving exhibition introducing the NDAs development has also been held at the North District, Sha Tin and North Point Government Offices. We will continue to release the background information, consultation documents, video and executive summary of technical documents, etc of the NDAs on the Study website (www.nentnda.gov.hk) for public viewing.
A public meeting in KTN with over 600 participants was convened on July 29. We will hold a forum on September 22 at HHCKLA Buddhist Ma Kam Chan Memorial English Secondary School, 9 Luen Yick Street, Luen Wo Market, Fanling, to gather public views. The PE3 period has been extended to end of September to allow more time for public comments. We understand the wishes of the affected residents, and hope to maintain a rational dialogue with the residents.
We will continue to consult other stakeholders and provide briefings to the affected residents and local concern groups. Public views on the NENT NDAs Study in the Stage 3 PE are welcome.
Ends/Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:27
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