Policy Address

96.       The "brownfield sites" in Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long South and New Territories North have been used for years for purposes incompatible with the surrounding environment.  The Government is studying feasible measures, including accommodating some of the users in multi-storey buildings and taking the "brownfield sites" inside the Hung Shui Kiu NDA as a pilot case, with a view to taking forward the development of NDAs.

97.       Reclamation outside Victoria Harbour is an important source of long-term land supply.  The cumulative environmental impact assessment of the western Hong Kong waters is largely completed.  Taking the assessment findings into account, the Government plans to commence a planning and engineering study on the Lung Kwu Tan reclamation at Tuen Mun in 2015.

98.       The Government commenced in the second half of 2014 the investigation on and design of the relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to rock caverns and the feasibility studies on relocating three other facilities to caverns.  A total of 34 hectares of land will be released for development.  We will also commence a pilot study on underground space development in four strategic districts in early 2015.

99.       The Government is conducting the Preliminary Feasibility Study on Developing the New Territories North to meet our long-term needs.

100.     Since its establishment in January last year, the Lantau Development Advisory Committee has examined in detail the positioning and recommendations for short, medium and long-term economic and community development in Lantau.  This seeks to capitalise on the benefits brought by the three-runway system of the Hong Kong International Airport, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and other strategic infrastructure in the area, and to attain synergy with the Greater Pearl River Delta development.  In 2015, short-term projects such as the revitalisation of Tai O and Mui Wo, construction of mountain bike trails, improvements to narrow road bends along Keung Shan Road and South Lantau Road, and review of arrangements for closed roads and issuance of closed road permits for Lantau will be rolled out in full swing.  In the medium term, we will continue with the development of the Tung Chung New Town Extension, and proceed to commence studies in connection with the reclamation in Sunny Bay and topside commercial development on the Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.  In the long term, we will seek support of this Council for early commencement of the preliminary study on the East Lantau Metropolis to look into the development of artificial islands in the eastern waters off Lantau, including the provision of ancillary transport infrastructure to link up to the western part of the New Territories and Hong Kong Island.

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