Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, in the Legislative Council today (May 2):
Question:
To facilitate the construction works of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL), the Government has loaned a number of sites (e.g. Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground in Wong Tai Sin and part of the land of the Nam Cheong Park in Sham Shui Po) to the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) for use as temporary supporting works areas. With the imminent completion of the Hin Keng to Hung Hom section of SCL and XRL, such temporary works sites will be returned to the Government. Regarding the uses of those sites, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the information on each of the sites which are currently on loan to MTRCL to facilitate the aforesaid construction works, including the (i) location, (ii) area, (iii) expected date of return to the Government, and (iv) proposed long-term use (if any); and
(2) regarding those sites which will be returned to the Government but whose long-term use has not yet been determined at present, whether the authorities will invite various government departments or public organisations (e.g. the Social Welfare Department and the Hospital Authority) to apply for using those sites; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
Having consulted the Transport and Housing Bureau, my reply to the question is as follows:
The Shatin to Central Link (SCL), with a total length of 17 kilometres, consists of two sections, namely the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section and the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section. SCL will have ten stations. Apart from bringing improvements to the existing Tai Wai Station, the project will involve construction of new stations or extension of existing stations at Hin Keng, Diamond Hill, Kai Tak, Sung Wong Toi, To Kwa Wan, Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Admiralty. The estimated completion dates of the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section and the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section are mid-2019 and 2021 respectively.
The Hong Kong section (HKS) of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) is approximately 26 kilometres long, which will run from the boundary at Huanggang to West Kowloon Terminus located at the north of the West Kowloon Cultural District, and between the Airport Express Kowloon Station and the West Rail Austin Station. The estimated completion date is September 2018.
At present, a total of six sites covering a total area of about 156 500 square metres (sq m) have been directly leased to the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) by way of short-term tenancies for the construction works of SCL (three sites covering a total area of about 23 900 sq m) and HKS of XRL (three sites covering a total area of about 132 600 sq m). Please see Annex for the relevant information.
On the other hand, a total of 97 sites covering a total area of about 1 320 500 sq m have been allocated to the Highways Department by way of temporary government land allocations to facilitate MTRCL’s implementation of the works of SCL (70 sites covering a total area of about 693 500 sq m including part of the land of the Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground in Wong Tai Sin as mentioned in the question) and HKS of XRL (27 sites covering a total area of about 627 000 sq m, including part of the land of the Nam Cheong Park in Sham Shui Po as mentioned in the question). These sites are located along and around the alignment of the two railway projects.
Some of the sites used for carrying out the works will eventually become part of the land required for the operation of the two railways. The Lands Department (LandsD) will by then make appropriate arrangements for granting the land required for railway operation for the purposes of railway management and operation of the facilities concerned. At the meeting of the Executive Council on September 12, 2017 and February 6, 2018, the Council advised and the Chief Executive ordered that the land or interests or other rights in respect of land for the operation of HKS of XRL and SCL should be vested in the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation at nominal value.
As for the works sites not necessary to be included as part of the transport infrastructure, MTRCL will need to handle and arrange to return these sites to the Government as appropriate taking into account the completion schedules of different parts of works upon near completion of the construction works of these two railway projects. It is estimated that the relevant sites will be returned gradually between 2018 and 2022.
Among them, some of the sites were used for designated purposes prior to the implementation of the two railway projects (such as part of the land of the Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground in Wong Tai Sin and the Nam Cheong Park in Sham Shui Po as mentioned in the question). As for the land or part of the land not required for railway operation, MTRCL will hand over the sites to the original managing department (e.g. Leisure and Cultural Services Department) to resume the original use upon completion of the necessary re-provisioning or reinstatement works.
As for the other sites which will be returned by MTRCL to the Government, some have long-term planned uses with implementation schedules (e.g. West Kowloon Cultural District development, topside property development above West Kowloon Station, and Diamond Hill Comprehensive Development Area projects). The long-term planned uses of other sites are pending implementation. Regarding the long-term or short-term use of such land, the Planning Department and LandsD will respectively consult relevant policy bureaux and government departments in accordance with the established mechanism.
Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:00
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