Reclamation on an Appropriate Scale Outside Victoria Harbour

81.         To build up the land reserve, we will actively press ahead with reclamation outside Victoria Harbour, while endeavouring to keep the impact on the environment and marine ecology to a minimum. In accordance with the site selection criteria formulated after the stage one public engagement, we will put forward possible reclamation sites for further consideration and commence the stage two public engagement as soon as possible. After that, we will conduct planning, environmental and engineering feasibility studies on selected sites. We hope that a total of about 2 000 to 3 000 hectares of land can be made available in this way. Initially, North Lantau, Lung Kwu Tan in Tuen Mun, Southwest Tsing Yi and Ma Liu Shui near the estuary of Shing Mun River are among the sites we have identified. They will provide a total of about 600 hectares of land.

Rock Cavern and Underground Space Development

82.         Reclamation aside, rock caverns and underground spaces are viable sources of land supply. We are studying the feasibility of relocating the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to a cavern to make way for housing or other uses. We are also conducting a study on the long-term strategy for rock cavern development with a view to preparing rock cavern master plans and formulating policy guidelines. Moreover, we will further explore the potential of developing underground spaces in the urban areas. This includes studying the possibility of linking up the underground spaces of existing or planned structures in the urban areas.

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