http://www.hyd.gov.hk/chi/major/road/projects/6579th/SK0048.pdf
graphics from Highway Department of HK, showing the new highway and land reclamation.....finally, after years of asking for a reclamation map w/o success.

I can see that they are widening the route coming out from HKCEC towards the CHT. Is it true that we may see quite a bit of congestion tailing back into HKCEC someday...?

I can also see that Slip Road 8 required a bit of land from Victoria Park. Is that confirmed?

I can see that they are widening the route coming out from HKCEC towards the CHT. Is it true that we may see quite a bit of congestion tailing back into HKCEC someday...?

I can also see that Slip Road 8 required a bit of land from Victoria Park. Is that confirmed?

Just realized the CWB is going to abandon the current Convention Road, and build a wider one over the current open water under HKCEC.

By design, it probably assumed most Kowloon-bound traffic from Central will head to the WHC with little going to CHT. In reality? The only way get to CHT from HKCEC is via Fleming Road, and Hung Hing Road is bus only, so the congestion may be true if the current unbalanced flow continue.

That slip road coming on and off Expo Drive Central looks kind of funky, will be interesting to see how is it actually designed.

Just realized the CWB is going to abandon the current Convention Road, and build a wider one over the current open water under HKCEC.

By design, it probably assumed most Kowloon-bound traffic from Central will head to the WHC with little going to CHT. In reality? The only way get to CHT from HKCEC is via Fleming Road, and Hung Hing Road is bus only, so the congestion may be true if the current unbalanced flow continue.

That slip road coming on and off Expo Drive Central looks kind of funky, will be interesting to see how is it actually designed.

Perhaps they're thinking way ahead when all 3 tunnels go back into the hands of the government.

Yes, that slip road coming right out under the current "HKCEC bridge" over existing waters is going to look quite weird lol
What's the land use for the reclaimed areas under the "bridge" going to be? Another park?

Perhaps they're thinking way ahead when all 3 tunnels go back into the hands of the government.

Perhaps no one have ever thought the BOT system would completely mess up the traffic pattern of a city, I don't think it has ever happened anywhere else in the world until Hong Kong.

BOT was supposed to be one of the best options to invest in expensive infrastructure without breaking the government bank.

To be fair, this project started in the late-80s and transport planners 25 years ago probably have a different view than what we do now.


Yes, that slip road coming right out under the current "HKCEC bridge" over existing waters is going to look quite weird lol
What's the land use for the reclaimed areas under the "bridge" going to be? Another park?

Maybe loading area for the HKCEC.

Wan Chai - 3/13

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Beauty of nature with the help of man
i like this effort

4/1

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Updates on 9 Apr 2011

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Covering already?? Pretty quick.

Covering already?? Pretty quick.

^^ Indeed...!

4/16

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New billboard!

New billboard!
They shifted the old bus terminus in front of IFC, turned it 90 degrees and further towards the sea.

http://www.businessreviewaustralia.com/company-reports/central-reclamation-phase-iii-project

This is only the introduction, there's alot more information on the website

The Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) project is part of a larger waterfront reclamation project in the Central District of Hong Kong Island that began with Central Reclamation I in 1991. The land reclamation project is required for the construction of the Central-Wanchai Bypass as well as future development of the Central waterfront area. CRIII is the last significant reclamation in the Central District and is expected to be complete by the end of 2011.
http://www.businessreviewaustralia.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/Slideshow_656x400/Aerial%20Photo%20of%20Central%20Reclamation%203%20with%20Admiralty%20and%20Central%20Districts%20in%20the%20middle%20distance.JPG
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My goodness, you can see how close TST is from the reclamation.

Where does the underground road go? It looks like a dead end.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5649974104_76249cdbb4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/extremesimon/5649974104/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/extremesimon/5649974104/) by Simon - hibernating (http://www.flickr.com/people/extremesimon/), on Flickr

Cavern plan better than reclamation
23 May 2011
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong has an insatiable appetite for more space, as evidenced by the amount of development on reclaimed land. Now that reclamation, even outside Victoria Harbour, is environmentally controversial, innovative alternatives are more likely to be taken seriously. One first mentioned in the budget speech three months ago is a case in point. Last week officials fleshed out a proposal to excavate big caverns under parts of the city in which to relocate unpopular utilities such as sewage treatment plants, fuel storage depots, refuse transfer stations and columbariums. The government could easily recoup the cost through sale of the vacated land for redevelopment. For example, according to Permanent Secretary for Development Wai Chi-sing, moving the Sha Tin sewage treatment plant at a cost of about HK$10 billion would free up 28 hectares of land with Tolo Harbour views that could be sold for much more.

Officials have identified 400 facilities that could be moved and all told the idea could free up more than 100 hectares of land.

You could ask why it has not been done already, given that two thirds of the city sits on granite and volcanic rock suitable for hollowing out to make caverns, according to the Civil Engineering and Development Department. Perhaps it is because of the need to provide infrastructure from scratch and for energy-intensive ventilation.

Subject to strict human and environmental safety guidelines, burying utilities in caverns has to be better than reclaiming more land. A feasibility study is therefore worthwhile. Coincidentally the government plans reclamation at seven sites away from the harbour, but any further destruction of natural shorelines should be a last resort.

The Sha Tin sewage plant sits near the racecourse where the Shing Mun River flows into Tide Cove. In such circumstances redevelopment should be subject to preservation or restoration of the public's rightful access to foreshores. That should be a stipulation of the government's mission to ensure a stable and sustainable supply of land.

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Harbour defender calls for easing of his own law
10 June 2011
South China Morning Post

The drafter of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance says it is time to relax the interpretation of his own law, which prohibits reclamation in Victoria Harbour. Winston Chu Ka-sun made the remark yesterday after the Harbour Business Forum said the government's interpretation of the law was the main obstacle to building piers, landing steps and marinas around the harbour. Maggie Brooke, who chairs the forum's best practice committee, said small-scale reclamation which improved public access and enjoyment of the harbour should be allowed.

One of the best views in the world
http://www.satelliteview.org/satellite/Victoria_Harbour

LDAC briefed on reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development studies
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Government Press Release

At its meeting today (July 14), the Land and Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) received a briefing from the Development Bureau (DEVB) and relevant government departments on the studies and public engagement exercise on increasing land supply by reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development.

The Committee agreed that the Government should further study ways to provide usable land, including reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development, to meet Hong Kong's housing and economic development needs in the medium to long term. Members suggested that in future public engagement, the Administration should actively engage the community to discuss the need and options available to increase land supply.

Members noted that reclamation would help resolve the problems of handling surplus public fill and contaminated sediments. Relocating suitable government facilities to caverns would also free up land for housing and other purposes.

The Civil Engineering and Development Department started the preliminary feasibility study on reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and cavern development earlier this month. The Stage 1 public engagement exercise will start in the fourth quarter of this year.

The LDAC also advised the Government to support a project to redevelop the Pioneer Memorial Church building and the former Hong Kong Sam Yuk Secondary School premises in Happy Valley proposed by the Hong Kong-Macao Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The site will be redeveloped into a four-storey-high church building and a complex with church facilities, senior hostel and residential care home for the elderly.

The Pioneer Memorial Church was graded as a Grade 3 historic building in November 2010. Through the co-ordination of the Development Opportunities Office of DEVB, the Commissioner for Heritage's Office and the Antiquities and Monuments Office have obtained the project proponent's agreement to preserve the character-defining features of the existing church building and to reassemble them in the redeveloped church building. The project proponent will continue to work with the Administration on details of its conservation plan.

Members noted that the new church building would provide additional floor space and facilities for church activities. The new senior hostel and residential care home for the elderly would provide elderly people with more housing choices and provide care and support services to elderly people with various intensive care needs.

7/15

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That AIA sign is so ugly I just wanna throwup

^ Ah that's right! It's new! Haven't noticed it until you pointed it out.

'Common sense' sailing into the harbor projects picture
The Standard
Thursday, September 08, 2011

Guidelines for reclamation may be reviewed to reflect a greater degree of "common sense" now that a leading harbor protection activist has agreed with officials on a need for a balanced approach.

Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made the remarks about a government rethink at a Harbourfront Commission meeting.

Society for Protection of the Harbour adviser Winston Chu Ka-sun said earlier yesterday that his group will support a limited reclamation when the gain overrides the loss of that part of the harbor.

Welcoming Chu's remarks, Lam said officials will "humbly look at our guidelines again" to see how the society's ideas may be incorporated. But another party could still go to court, she cautioned.

The government, she said, must abide by a January 2004 Court of Final Appeal ruling that any reclamation must satisfy an "overriding public need" test. But "at least we can now proceed with this more common-sense approach."

Lam noted that seven months after the court laid down the principle, the government issued practical guidelines on public work projects. And on new reclamation, she said, a proposal must be shown by "cogent and convincing" materials to be of greater public importance than part of the harbor.

Chu said he is happy with Lam's words and hopes officials will adopt the "proportionality principle." Under it, a prime consideration in deciding on reclamation is whether a project has enough advantages for the people to justify the loss.

Chu also sought to refute suggestions that his group has changed its stance on preserving and protecting the harbor, saying it has never argued that all reclamation should be banned.

Small-scale reclamation that may enhance the value of the harbor, he added, may include building a pier, landing steps, and such projects can be considered on a case-by-case basis.

8/6

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9/9

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LCQ9: Harbourfront development
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon James To Kun-sun and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (October 26):

Question:

According to a paper submitted by the Government to the Subcommittee on Harbourfront Planning of this Council in July this year, the Government will examine the establishment of a dedicated "harbourfront authority" for harbourfront development. Moreover, the Government also proposed that "the open space at ex-Tai Kok Tsui bus terminus site will be developed into a waterfront open space by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department" (Tai Kok Tsui bus terminus development project), and "possible development of a new waterfront promenade for public use upon successful re-zoning of a vacant site of about 200-metre long to the north of Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter to 'Open Space' use" (Yau Ma Tei waterfront development project). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the current progress of the Tai Kok Tsui bus terminus development project; whether the final design is expected to be different from the design previously submitted to the Harbourfront Commission; of the expected time when the Government will proceed to seek funding from this Council;

(b) regarding the aforesaid development projects in the waterfront areas of Tai Kok Tsui and Yau Ma Tei, whether the Government will in the near future conduct traffic assessment or study the improvement of transport supporting facilities in order to mitigate the possible impact of the projects on the traffic in such districts; in addition, as I have learnt that at present provision has been made for an exit to be connected to a footbridge leading from the southern concourse of the Olympic Station of the MTR Tung Chung Line to the nearby waterfront, whether the Government will consider constructing access links to enhance the accessibility of the nearby waterfront areas;

(c) of the expected time when the vacant site located to the north of Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter and reserved for "Open Space" use will be developed into a waterfront promenade; given that the Government has planned to construct marine facilities at the existing "Government, Institution or Community Facilities" site which is adjacent to that vacant site, and the waterfront access next to the marine facilities will be developed into a waterfront promenade, whether the Government will develop that waterfront access into a waterfront promenade together with the "Open Space" site at the same time; in addition, whether at present there is any new progress of exploring how to improve the pedestrian facilities running from the West Kowloon Cultural District located to the south of Yau Ma Tei towards the Tai Kok Tsui waterfront located to the north; and

(d) given that the Secretary for Development earlier said that a framework on the various aspects of the establishment of the "harbourfront authority" was expected to be worked out within one year, of the current progress, and according to the Government's estimate, whether it can complete drafting the framework as scheduled?

Reply:

President,

My reply to the four-part question is as follows:

(a) According to the Draft South West Kowloon Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/K20/26, the parcel of waterfront land at the ex-Tai Kok Tsui bus terminus site has been zoned as "Open Space". The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) consulted the Community Building Committee under the Yau Tsim Mong District Council (YTMDC) and the Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing (Kowloon Task Force) under the Harbourfront Commission (HC) on the preliminary design of the open space development in May last year and early this year respectively. ArchSD is now fine-tuning the design of the open space in the light of the views collected and LCSD will prepare for funding application for the project in due course.

(b) Regarding the two development sites involved in the harbourfront development projects in Tai Kok Tsui and Yau Ma Tei, to which the question refers, the parcel of waterfront land at the ex-Tai Kok Tsui bus terminus site has been zoned as "Open Space" while the strip of land along Hoi Fai Road on the waterfront facing Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter has been rezoned from "Government, Institution or Community" (G/IC) to "Open Space" . As the traffic flow in relation to "Open Space" sites is normally lower than that of G/IC sites, the relevant change in zoning is not expected to cause adverse traffic impact on the road networks in the vicinity.

Regarding the area near the southern concourse of the MTR Olympic Station, the public can now walk from the MTR Olympic Station to the sites near Hoi Fai Road (including the above "Open Space" sites) by taking the footbridge leading to the Bank of China Centre and through the ground level footpath. The Administration does not have any plan to construct a new footbridge connecting the southern concourse of the MTR Olympic Station with the Hoi Fai Road area at this stage, but will continue to monitor closely the traffic and pedestrian flow in the area, and take appropriate follow-up action as necessary.

(c) A strip of land along Hoi Fai Road on the waterfront facing Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter has been rezoned from G/IC to "Open Space" to facilitate the proposed waterfront promenade development. The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) are exploring the direction of developing the proposed waterfront promenade and will commence the advance preparatory works as soon as practicable. The Administration will consult the relevant stakeholders, including YTMDC and HC etc, on the works design of the project in due course.

The Marine Department (MD) plans to build additional office facilities to meet its operational needs at the adjacent G/IC site to the north of its existing Harbour Patrol Section office at Hoi Fai Road. MD and ArchSD have briefed YTMDC and Kowloon Task Force under HC respectively on the relevant design and landscaping proposal this year. The Administration has set back the proposed building structure for the provision of a passageway to facilitate public access to the waterfront, subject to the future development of the nearby waterfront areas.

Moreover, there are existing establishments along the New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter, namely the new Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area (PCWA) and some other government facilities, including the sewage pumping station of the Drainage Services Department, the marine refuse collection point of MD, the water selling kiosk of the Water Supplies Department and the PCWA Administration Building of MD. In the long run, the Administration will explore how to improve the connection of pedestrian facilities running from the Tai Kok Tsui waterfront in the north to the West Kowloon Cultural District in the south, on condition that the operation of the above facilities will not be affected.

(d) The Task Group on Management Model for the Harbourfront under the former Harbour-front Enhancement Committee recommended in its recommendation report that the Administration could in the long term establish an independent, statutory and dedicated authority for harbourfront planning, design, operation and management. Further to the Secretary for Development's remark in the motion debate on harbourfront development at a Legislative Council meeting held in July this year that relevant research work would be launched, the Harbour Unit of DEVB has commenced work on information collection, with a view to drawing up a framework by mid-2012 for consideration by the Government of the next term. The proposal will be further discussed by HC at its upcoming meetings.

Reclamation probe takes center stage
The Standard
Wednesday, November 09, 2011

The government will launch tomorrow a public consultation on land reclamation and cavern use.

If everything goes well, the first reclaimed site will be available in 2019, sources said.

It is understood the government plans to find seven to eight suitable sites for reclamation in the next few years.

The participation of private companies in reclamation projects is expected by 2017.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen announced in his policy address last month that the government will explore the possibility of reclamation on a reasonable scale outside Victoria Harbour.

He also said the government will consider using caverns for housing and other purposes.

Tsang mentioned three sites - the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works, and the Mount Davis and Kennedy Town Fresh Water Services Reservoirs.

According to sources, the government will also include Siu Ho Wan on Lantau Island, Lam Tei in Tuen Mun and Lion Rock Hill.

On reclamation outside Victoria Harbour, the government will look into location and accessibility. It will also work on meeting people's needs.

Environmental impact, cost effectiveness and planning flexibility will also be considered.

About 500 hectares of land were reclaimed between 2001 and 2005, but fewer than 50 hectares were reclaimed between 2006 and 2010, sources said.

On cavern development, the government will take into account both the social benefits and environmental impact.

According to the Planning Department's existing guidelines, caverns can be used for oil bulk storage and as slaughterhouses, incinerators and columbariums, and many others.

Sources revealed government plans to add to this list by including science laboratories, car parks, cremation facilities and MTR repair centers.

They said 3,754 hectares outside Victoria Harbour and 3,070 hectares within the harbor can be reclaimed. Building artificial islands is also an option.

The government is considering reclamation and finding new uses for caverns because of the challenges it faces in urban planning, sources added.

Land reclamation has met with heavy opposition from long-time residents.

10/31

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SDEV speaks on reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Government Press Release

Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, speaking to the media today (November 10) after attending the launch ceremony of the Stage 1 Public Engagement on Enhancing Land Supply Strategy:

Reporter: When is the revenue going to take place and how much revenue is expected by the Government?

Secretary for Development: It is too early to talk about revenue. We start at the Stage 1 of the public engagement on reclamation outside of the Victoria Harbour and cavern development. The purpose of a Stage 1 is perhaps to engage the community to agree on certain criteria, that is the need for doing reclamation outside of Victoria Harbour and cavern development, and we are going to use this approach, what are the key factors that the Government should bear in mind and whether there is a general community consensus. I think we will move into very definite site identification in Stage 2 of the exercise. But I can assure you that we will be extremely careful in selecting suitable sites for reclamation outside of the Victoria Harbour.

Reporter: What is the Government's preferred option? What do you think about the accusation that the Government has focused too much on commercialisation as to conservation?

Secretary for Development: First of all, I don't think it is fair to suggest that the Government has focused too much on commercialisation, as opposed to conservation. In recent years, whether it is in heritage conservation or nature conservation, the Government has made a lot of progress and initiatives. Indeed, even in creating land, it is not so much for commercialisation purposes. It is for meeting Hong Kong people's needs, particularly housing needs. That's why the Chief Executive has set a sort of target of trying to produce land that will be sufficient for providing an average of 40,000 housing units per year in the next 10 years. So, this is a very tall order for us, and that is why we need to find various means to produce land.

As to your first question, What is our preferred approach? In fact, as you can see from the gimmick that we have used for this public consultation, which is a puzzle made up of six pieces, I would say that we need each and every one of those six strategies in other to have a balanced and sustainable supply of land to meet Hong Kong's various needs.

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11/19 - Wan Chai section

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thanks for the photos, but do not go very slowly with the works?, in which year end?

The official sites still say 2011 (obviously need updating). I'm also curious as to when the park and buildings will be ready ontop of Phase III! The wait had better be worth it! It's been a construction site for so long...

seems like a lot of people forgot about the subway extension underground too. http://www.collegefun4u.com/track.php?u=4

Extra care sunk into harbor bypass
The Standard
Friday, February 10, 2012

Waters in the inner harbor may appear to be choked by filth, yet advanced construction technology will be used to build a tunnel on the Central-Wan Chai bypass to cut marine pollution.

Chun Wo Development managing director Clement Kwok Yuk-chiu noted the firm has three contracts to build the bypass from Central to North Point.

But it has decided not to build a tunnel with immersed tubes. Instead, advanced excavation methods will avoid dredging sediment and thus protect marine species.

And Chun Wo has scaled down the size of the construction site to minimize inconvenience to pedestrians and office workers.

The bypass - a road and tunnel project along the north shore of Hong Kong Island - was delayed for several years because of a judicial review.

Protesters said the planned reclamation was against the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.

But a Court of Final Appeal ruling in 2004 allowed the project to proceed if reclamation was scaled down.

LCQ12: Population projection and land demand
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Kam Nai-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (February 22):

Question:

The Government announced 25 proposed sites for reclamation outside the Victoria Harbour and consulted the public on the policy on developing land and enhancing land supply to meet, among others, the future needs for infrastructure and housing in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the Hong Kong population projections for 2011 which were made by the authorities in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006; the discrepancies between such figures and the actual population in 2011; the reasons for the discrepancies, and whether they have conducted reviews and introduced improvement in respect of the discrepancies in such projections;

(b) of the Hong Kong population projections for 2030 which were made by the authorities in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006; the respective differences in results between each projection and the one immediately preceding it, and the reasons for such differences;

(c) of the respective percentages of permanent and non-permanent residents of Hong Kong in the population of 8.9 million people projected for 2039 by the authorities at present; the monitoring system and examination measures put in place by the Government to prevent over-development of land (including reclamation and over-development which cause unnecessary damages to the natural environment and ecology) due to serious errors in the estimation of future population;

(d) of the area and percentage of developed land in the 1 100 square kilometres of land in Hong Kong at present; the respective numbers of the lots used for public and private housing as well as commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes, and their respective areas and percentages in the area of brownfield sites; the number of industrial and agricultural sites among them which may be developed into sites for housing or commercial purposes; among the greenfield sites, the respective areas of sites which are subject to the Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208) and the regulations for special areas, as well as respective percentages of such areas in the total land area in Hong Kong; the number of remaining greenfield sites which are not subject to the Country Parks Ordinance or the regulations for special areas, the respective percentages of the areas of such sites in the total land area in Hong Kong, and the possible purposes of development for such sites;

(e) whether the authorities have conducted any comprehensive assessment of the land demand in Hong Kong, the territory-wide land-use planning and the progress of land development, e.g. development of long-abandoned quarries, idle government, rural and industrial sites (including former government quarters, vacant school premises and community facilities as well as expired short-term tenancy sites, etc.), as well as the remaining areas for development in Tung Chung, the new towns in the Northeast New Territories, North Lantau, Sham Tseng/Tsuen Wan and the frontier closed areas, etc.; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether they have studied the development of existing greenfield sites to enhance land supply; and

(f) whether it has conducted any comprehensive study covering all aspects of society in Hong Kong on the various benefits and costs (e.g. employment, economic activities, construction costs and environmental costs, etc. arising from development projects) of reclamation vis-赋-vis those of developing dry land, so as to compare the overall benefits and costs between the two approaches; if it has, of the details, and whether it will make public the outcome and information of the study?

Reply:

President,

The Government is currently conducting a public engagement exercise on enhancing land supply strategy with a view to consulting the public on reclamation on an appropriate scale outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development and establishing the site selection criteria. During the consultation process, some opined that the preliminary site criteria were too abstract and sought specific examples of reclamation sites to facilitate public discussion. Having reviewed Hong Kong's shoreline and excluded severely constrained sites unsuitable for reclamation, we proposed 25 possible reclamation sites to facilitate the public's consideration of the site selection criteria from social, economic and environmental perspectives in accordance with the sustainability principle. To date, the Government has yet to reach a decision on the proposal for reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and the site selection criteria. The types and sites of reclamation are also subject to changes in the light of public opinion. In the next step, we will consider the public's views on reclamation, formulate the site selection criteria and identify possible sites before further consulting the public, and the local communities and organisations concerned. We aim to identify about 10 reclamation sites for detailed feasibility study and further public consultation.

My reply to the various parts of the question, having consolidated the information provided by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), is as follows:

(a) and (b): The C&SD published population projections in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2007, using the base populations of 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2006 respectively. The differences between the projected 2011 population in these population projection series and the actual population figure in mid-2011, and between the current population projection for 2030 and the previous projections are tabulated in Annex 1.

In compiling each series of population projections, the C&SD had taken into consideration the latest population, social and economic development conditions and the local trends in fertility, mortality and migration patterns. The differences between projections and the actual population were mainly due to unexpected changes in the trends of population, social and economic development of Hong Kong in different periods.

Since 2000, the C&SD has updated the population projections at intervals of two to three years, taking into account the latest population, social and economic development conditions. As shown in the information above, each successive update in population projections would further narrow the differences with the actual population figures.

(c) In 2010, the C&SD projected on the basis of the latest 2009-based population data that the 2039 population would reach 8.89 million. In other words, our population is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.8% for the next 30 years, which is lower than the actual average annual growth rate of 1.1% for the past 30 years. This population projection has not differentiated between Hong Kong Permanent Residents and Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents.

Our population projection methodology, which is internationally approved, applies appropriate statistical projection methods and makes reference to the latest population, social and economic development conditions, the latest trends in fertility, mortality and migration patterns, and input from the relevant bureaux and departments on the various assumptions of the population projection exercise. Moreover, as mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the C&SD will update the population figures according to the actual conditions from time to time to minimise errors in the population projections.

Implementing any developments, whether they be developments on land or reclamation projects, require a relatively long lead time for preparation work, including going through the statutory procedures, undertaking technical and environmental impact assessments and public consultation. At the preparatory stage, the projects are subject to continuous evaluation in the light of the latest conditions to assess their justifications and urgency. The projects would be planned and implemented in an orderly manner. As such, there would not be excessive development of land that would infringe the public interest and endanger the natural and ecological environment of Hong Kong.

(d) The total land area of Hong Kong measures about 1 108 square kilometres, which can be divided into built-up and non-built-up land. The respective areas of the various sites mentioned in the question are as follows:

(i) The built-up area measures about 263 square kilometres, representing 23.7% of the total land area in Hong Kong. There is no statistics on the number of land lots used for various purposes. Agricultural land is not classified as built-up land. (Annex 2)

(ii) The non-built-up land measures about 845 square kilometres and accounts for about 76.3% of the total land area in Hong Kong. (Annex 3)

It is worth noting that the remaining non-built-up land is mainly wetland, wetland conservation areas, wetland buffer areas, water gathering grounds, hilly land, slopes and woodland, etc. that cannot be or is not suitable for development and are subject to various development constraints. As far as the development of the agricultural lands is concerned, most of these lands are privately owned with fragmented ownership, and are lack of infrastructures. To meet the demand for development, we have identified agricultural lands with higher potential for planning and development, including parts of the land in the North East New Territories New Development Areas and Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area (NDA). We will also actively explore other available land including the ex-quarry sites, green belt areas that are devegetated, deserted or formed, as well as deserted agricultural land.

(e) Land demand is driven by population growth, economic development and public's aspiration for a better living environment. Population growth will increase demand of land for housing and public facilities. Economic development will increase the demand of land for commercial developments including offices and hotels. Improving the living environment including lowering the development density, increasing open spaces and protecting the natural environment can only be materialised with more land. With regard to land supply, the Government has assessed the supply under the existing land supply options (including resumption, redevelopment, rezoning, re-use of ex-quarry sites). We have reviewed all projects under implementation and planning stages, including property development projects above railway stations, urban renewal projects, revitalisation projects of industrial buildings, future land supply in the NDAs (including North East New Territories NDAs and Hung Shui Kiu NDA, the Kai Tak Development Area, Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O) and rezoning of industrial sites, green belts and agricultural lands. Among these, the NDAs, rezoning of green belts and agricultural lands will involve the development of the currently non-built-up land, which are affected by the problems of land resumption, clearance, fragmented ownership, conservation of heritage, cultural and ecology, etc. It is difficult to ensure timely and sufficient supply of land to meet the demand. Therefore, if we simply count on land development under the current land supply options, the long-term land demand of Hong Kong cannot be met and a land reserve can hardly be built up for Hong Kong.

(f) We have conducted preliminary assessments on the impacts of reclamation and other land development options arising from the social, economic and environmental aspects, and have made a broad analysis. On the economic aspect, rezoning, redevelopment and resumption are all market driven with a high degree of uncertainties, whereas reclamation is suitable for building up a land reserve to alleviate the impact brought by economic cycles and the uncertainties in the market. On the social aspect, rezoning, redevelopment and resumption will affect the existing community and economic activities which require decanting sites, whereas reclamation can provide the required land and solution space. On the environment aspect, redevelopment will generate public fill, whereas reclamation can effectively collect the public fill. The above information has been released in the public engagement activities and uploaded onto the website for the public engagement at www.landsupply.hk. As for the benefits and costs of specific reclamation and land development projects, the assessment can only be made after conducting detailed planning and engineering studies. There is no comprehensive study at this stage.

Annex : http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201202/22/P201202220312.htm

Greens slam reclamation over sinking marine life
The Standard
Thursday, March 08, 2012

Reclamation projects have caused fish stocks to decline by 70percent over the past two decades, a green group claims.

Green Sense believes sand dredging and depositing - crucial processes when reclaiming land - inevitably disturb marine life and the spawning grounds that replenish it.

"Reclaiming land, and not overfishing, is the primary cause of habitat destruction which results in the loss of marine life," Green Sense president Roy Tam Hoi-pong said. He added that when reclaiming land, two separate sites are damaged since sand is normally dredged from one area and deposited in the zone to be reclaimed.

Hong Kong and Kowloon Floating Fishermen Welfare Promotion Association secretary Keung Siu-fai said since dredging began 20 years ago, fishermen have been complaining about a diminishing catch rate of 50 to 70 percent.

Also, the variety of fish caught is much smaller. Stocks of the yellow croaker fish and Chinese bahaba are almost depleted.

Ho Kin-chung, dean of science and technology at the Open University of Hong Kong, said reclamation causes erosion of the seabed as large quantities of mud are dumped into the sea, destroying the breeding ground of shrimps and small marine organisms that fish feed on.

Fish are also poisoned by chemicals released during dredging operations.

Tam said he will raise his concerns at the open hearing of the Legislative Council on Saturday.

The public consultation on the government's reclamation plans will end this month.

Oh this is the construction site I've seen when I was at Apple Store.

Loss of internet blamed on cable cut by bypass diggers
The Standard
Monday, April 16, 2012

Hong Kong Telecom (6823) has blamed the contractor responsible for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass for causing a breakdown in services to 17,650 commercial and personal users on Friday by damaging cables.

In a preliminary report yesterday, the SAR's leading telecom services provider claimed China State Construction Engineering (HK) damaged three cross-harbor fiber cable routings in Causeway Bay typhoon shelter at about 3:45pm on Friday.

By Hong Kong Telecom count, about 9,000 active commercial broadband and 4,500 One Communications customers were affected.

The company also said 4,000 consumer broadband customers in the west of the New Territories suffered a slowdown and that 150 NowTV customers were impacted.

Some securities brokers also said they noticed access was slow and that some customers had needed to call in their orders during the last few minutes of trading on Friday.

Others affected included the new Government Headquarters in Admiralty as well as commercial users from Central to Quarry Bay, the south side of Hong Kong Island and Tung Chung.

Hong Kong Telecom diverted network traffic through redundant routings, and by 7:15pm more than 90 percent of commercial and residential broadband services had been restored.

The office of the Communications Authority received 16 complaints.

Hong Kong Telecom intends to file a claim for damages against China State Construction.

A spokeswoman for that company, which is part of state-owned China State Construction International (3311), declined to comment yesterday.