Yau Tong Bay project at mercy of public opinion
Site development likely to be halted by reclamation concerns
7 May 2005
South China Morning Post

Developers are unlikely to see much in the way of progress at the $10 billion Yau Tong Bay redevelopment project in the near future as public calls to protect Victoria Harbour from reclamation delay proceedings, according to one of its investors, Henderson Land Development.

Under the redevelopment plan, which has been in existence since 1989, heavily polluted Yau Tong Bay would be transformed into a 22-hectare residential-cum-commercial development. According to blueprints, a total of 12.5 hectares of land would be reclaimed from the sea.

"Public opinion has been strongly against any land reclamation in Victoria Harbour, so we don't expect to see any breakthrough for the Yau Tong Bay project in the foreseeable future," said Colin Lam Ko-yin, vice-chairman at Henderson Land, which owns a 19 per cent stake in the project. Mr Lam was speaking after yesterday's annual general meeting of Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings), a Henderson Land subsidiary.

Approval for land reclamation projects around Victoria Harbour has been difficult to obtain since a 2003 court ruling went against reclamation off Wan Chai. The ruling said that developers had to demonstrate an "overriding public need" to justify reclamation.

Industry observers have suggested that making such a case for the Yau Tong project will prove problematic.

The project, developed by a Henderson-led consortium of more than 10 developers, has already received approval from the Environmental Protection Department with respect to land reclamation but it also needs a green light from the Town Planning Board.

A spokesman for Cornerstone Communications, the public relations firm acting for the developer consortium, claimed that, in fact, reclamation would be positive for Yau Tong Bay as it would involve a clean up of the area's heavy pollution, left over from when the bay was home to a shipyard.

The redevelopment envisages 38 residential blocks with a gross floor area of 9.7 million square feet, of which about 1.72 million sqft would be attributable to the group.

Separately, Hong Kong Ferry said it had brought in more than $1 billion this year from selling 170 residential units at Metro Harbour View in Tai Kok Tsui.

The average price of flats at Metro Harbour grew 20 per cent year on year to $4,500 per square foot, the firm said.

"We plan to sell the remaining 500 unsold units of Metro Harbour View this year," said Mr Lam, who is also chairman of Hong Kong Ferry.

He added the company would start pre-sales at another residential project, 43-51A Tong Mi Road, by the middle of this year while completion for the project was scheduled for early next year.

Henderson Land shares closed down 0.82 per cent at $36.20 yesterday, while those of Hong Kong Ferry were up 0.52 per cent at $9.65.

Yau Tong project may be downsized
Raymond Wang
28 April 2006
Hong Kong Standard

A large consortium led by Henderson Land is seeking a breakthrough for its planned mega housing project in Yau Tong Bay, estimated to be worth HK$60 billion, after the Kowloon East project stalled last year because of a land reclamation controversy.

Proposals for the much-awaited residential project _ which calls for the reclamation of 12.5 hectares of land from the sea and will transform Yau Tong Bay into a 22-hectare residential and commercial center _ will be submitted to the Town Planning Board within a couple of weeks, Henderson Land said.

If the reclamation is banned, the company said it might just slash the size of the project in order to push ahead with the development of the former shipyard.

"We will discuss with other owners of the Yau Tong Bay site regarding the proposals before submission," Henderson Land property development department general manager Augustine Wong Ho-ming said, without elaborating.

As currently planned, the project will provide 10,000 flats in 40 blocks with a total gross floor area of 9.7 million square feet, of which 1.7 million sq ft will be owned by Henderson.

The project is expected to be one of the biggest in Kowloon, coming in at about two-thirds the size of Tai Koo Shing, the largest development on Hong Kong Island. It will fetch nearly HK$60 billion, based on the almost HK$6,000 per square foot earned by the Canaryside development in Yau Tong. Other consortium members are New World Development, Wharf Holdings and some shipyard and timber mill owners.

Despite receiving land reclamation approval from the Environmental Protection Department in 2002, the project was delayed when the government began reviewing all reclamation projects after a public outcry against filling in the harbor in 2004.

In 2003, a court ruling against reclamation off Wan Chai said that any encroachment into the harbor had to be justified by a demonstrative overriding public need. While this does not cover the Yau Tong area, it did cause the government to rethink its approvals.

But the consortium argued that their reclamation would be positive for Yau Tong Bay, since it would involve cleaning up heavy pollution left over from when the bay was home to a shipyard.

man... this reclamation thing is getting on my nerves, altho I do understand that we gotta draw the (coast)line somewhere :-) but this has been dragged on since 1989? thaz a bit farfetched...

Yau Tong reclamation proposal dropped
Chloe Lai
9 October 2006
South China Morning Post


A consortium led by Henderson Land has decided to drop a plan to reclaim land off Yau Tong Bay for a large waterfront residential and commercial development, a senior executive said.

The executive said future proposals submitted to the Town Planning Board for endorsement would not include reclamation.

But a planning academic said good design that complied with the Harbour Planning Principles required more than just abandoning reclamation plans.

The bay plan is the first major development involving reclamation since the Court of Final Appeal in 2004 practically ruled out harbour reclamations.

The executive said: "We have commissioned five to six designers to work on different plans. We will choose one or two for the board to consider. None of the plans the designers are working on involves reclamation."

The Harbour Planning Principles require that all harbour-front developments involve the public on planning. They also call for developments to not only cater to the economic needs of the community, but also its social and environmental needs.

Ng Mee-kam, associate professor at the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Urban Planning, said she was worried the consortium would crowd the project to compensate for the financial loss of being refused permission to reclaim land for more buildings.

"No reclamation means the developers will have to scale back the development," she said. "I believe they will increase the density to make up for the loss of development space and revenue."

Professor Ng, who is also a government harbour adviser, warned high-density development would create more traffic which would worsen the environment.

She said the developers should also present their plans to the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee for comment. The Harbour Protection Ordinance covers the bay.

Since the appeals court decision, the consortium has argued that reclamation was the only option to clean contaminants from the seabed, stating this met the decision's "overriding public need".

油塘打造東九太古城




13/12/2006





【本報訊】東九龍也有「太古城」？隨東九龍急速發展，房屋委員會拍板斥資逾二億元，在油塘打造出一個「東九龍太古城」，興建歷來最大規模的商場發展項目，包括油塘第四期及東區海底隧道旁地盤第六期，並以高架購物廊連貫，更於場內引入戲院及保齡球場等設施。該商場預計最快於明年十一月底動工，○九年底完工。
本周五，房屋委員會建築小組將會討論油塘第四期、東區海底隧道第六期及高架購物廊的建議設計及工程預算，如有關設計獲通過，會隨即展開招標程序。

該個油塘商場發展計劃是房委會歷來最大型的發展計劃，總面積約四十萬平方呎。房委會早前特別聘請顧問進行研究，將該商場定位為一站式的家庭娛樂中心，與觀塘熱點商場apm分庭抗禮。至於高架購物廊採雙層設計，兩旁設有形形色色的零售商舖，並會串連已建成的鯉魚門廣場，營造逛不完的感覺。

有消息指出，油塘大型商場落成後，房委會不會即時售予領匯，因為新商場難以估值，故會待有關商場有成績後，才善價而沽。另外，九龍灣多個大型商場如EMax及MegaBox等雖相繼落成，卻不會影響油塘大型商場的吸引力，因為當局相信僅油塘區已有足夠人口支持新的商場，亦會吸引藍田一帶的人流。

Can't wait to see the design.

房委油塘申建逛不完商場



【明報專訊】房委會剛向城規會申請於油塘地鐵站旁，興建1幢8層高、面積43.4萬方呎的商場，並會貫通現有21.53萬方呎鯉魚門廣場，合併成為65萬方呎的商場，面積超過同約60萬方呎的觀塘apm商場及九龍灣德福廣場，將成為東九龍(包括將軍澳)第三大商場(見表)。

65萬方呎 超德福apm

apm商場發展商、新鴻基地產租務部總經理馮秀炎表示﹕「觀塘和將軍澳加起來，接近100萬人口，絕對可以容納多一個超大商場」。她不擔心競爭﹕「這邊(東九龍)一路只有德福、淘大及apm，開多一個商場會吸引客人，做大個餅，各師各法」。

房委會日前正式向城規會申請，將油塘站旁的第4期用地，興建1幢8層高商場，合共49.7萬方呎，較03年城規會批出的30萬方呎，擴大60％，其中最底3層用作公共交通交匯處、社區中心及停車場，而4樓至8樓則為商場，預計2010年落成。申請指出，43.4萬方呎商場會連接鯉魚門廣場，令總面積合共達65萬方呎。

房委拍板斥資逾2億元，計劃在油塘打造出一個「東九龍太古城」，興建房委歷來最大規模的商場發展項目，商場將以高架購物廊連貫，早前曾有消息指出，場內會引入戲院及保齡球場等設施。該商場預計最快於明年底動工。

房委會早前曾特別聘請顧問進行研究，將該商場定位為一站式的家庭娛樂中心，與觀塘熱點商場apm分庭抗禮。至於高架購物廊採雙層設計，兩旁設有形形色色的零售商舖，營造「逛不完」的感覺。而房委至今未有透露該大型商場會否或何時出售予領匯。

Well, MegaBox is already big as well, although the location is inconvinent since there are no train station.

Proposals for developing Yau Tong Bay thrown down
8 September 2007
Hong Kong Standard

The Town Planning Board has vetoed all three options for the HK$20 billion Yau Tong Bay development plan.

Board members questioned the proposed height of buildings on the waterfront, one of which was 200 meters.

The Planning Department criticized Henderson Land's (0012) calculation of plot ratios and gross floor areas, saying they included the proposed promenade and deviated from planning standards.

The three options all have a total plot ratio ranging from five to six, with the developer planning for 5,000 residential units, with one option containing 10 twin towers and two low-rise blocks for residential use with heights ranging from 48 meters to 188 meters and a 178-meter office building.

The second has no office building but 11 residential twin towers and two low-rises with heights ranging from 48 to 188 meters.

The third option has 14 150-meter twin towers with a 200-meter office block.

Although the department preferred the second option which has no office blocks, none of the three options garnered support from board members.

Board member Michael Lai Kam- chang said he has reservations about all three designs with buildings close to 200 meters compared with the tallest building on the Hung Hom waterfront, which is only about 75 meters tall.

Another member, Stanley Wong Yuen-fai, said the developer did not provide adequate information or models to justify such high-rises on the waterfront.

Even the Planning Department considered the gross floor areas of the three proposals excessive and unacceptable for the waterfront.

Town Planning Board chairman Raymond Young Lap-moon requested the Planning Department give Henderson planning parameters and meet the board again in about two months.

Augustine Wong Ho-ming, Henderson Land property development general manager, said the decision was disappointing, adding that the board should not focus solely on building heights.

Wong said the ruling that the promenade area be excluded from the plot ratio was unfair.

Victor Lai Kin-fai, managing director of Centaline Surveyors, said the board was bold to show its concern about air quality.

Lai said since concerned groups have raised the issue of the ``wall effect,'' the government can no longer drag its feet in tackling the problem.

What worried him was that lower height limits may raise building densities, which also would hinder air flow.

恆地牽頭油塘灣發展大計，倡劃一高限１２０米遭拒
1 December 2008
經濟通新聞

恆地（０００１２）牽頭的４００億元油塘灣發展大計，向城規會提出３項建議，包括政府設施不計入總樓面、整區劃一設定高限１２０米，及容許沒１００％業主同意亦可發展等，但

不獲城規會接納，維持原先發展限制。

城規會早前宣布修訂「茶果嶺、油塘、鯉魚門分區計劃大綱草圖」，把油塘灣綜合發展區現有水域刪去，確保不可填海，同時就區內發展用地全面加入高度限制，有關修訂公眾

諮詢期間共接獲１５份意見。

Yet another plan dies. Why is height such a big deal especially is a place like Yau Tong, and when is this fad gonna go away?

Yet another plan dies. Why is height such a big deal especially is a place like Yau Tong, and when is this fad gonna go away?

Because it's also important to protect the unique mountain ridge line that we have besides economic development.

Which Hung Hom Waterfront are they talking about? The Harbourfront is certainly greater than 75m.

A 200m building in Yau Tong would look pretty ugly to be fair.

Because it's also important to protect the unique mountain ridge line that we have besides economic development.

Ok I might be thinking of the wrong place if so forgive me.

but I thought that side of Kowloon, the mountains were already pretty much completely cut open ready for public housing is it not? I remember walking along the shore in Sai Wan Ho and looking across the harbor I don't think you can even call it a mountain let alone an actual ridge... it looks like giants dirt steps up the side of the mountain... or was I looking at somewhere else??

I understand height restrictions but I really wish they would do a step-up approach rather than a bunch of short buildings with the same height. What they have right now, the uniformity in height is absolutely hideous.

Ok I might be thinking of the wrong place if so forgive me.

but I thought that side of Kowloon, the mountains were already pretty much completely cut open ready for public housing is it not? I remember walking along the shore in Sai Wan Ho and looking across the harbor I don't think you can even call it a mountain let alone an actual ridge... it looks like giants dirt steps up the side of the mountain... or was I looking at somewhere else??

I understand height restrictions but I really wish they would do a step-up approach rather than a bunch of short buildings with the same height. What they have right now, the uniformity in height is absolutely hideous.

You are probably talking about this:
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr280/ericishim/World%20Aerials/20081114-18.jpg

This is the quarry on Anderson Road. The facility has been there for decades, but has become more exposed in the past few years. That mountain was the outskirt of urban area decades ago when it started operation. It's a history carried on til today. The materials are being used for reclamation, concrete manufacturing and other construction projects, mainly for government projects.

The quarry is coming to the end of its service. The site has been planned for residential use, and soon more towers will pop up from there. The zoning plan is still limiting building height higher than the mountain ridge. With additional tree planting on the exposed cliff, the mountain will soon return to its green as a backdrop for the new residential area.

And is this behind Yau Tong?

http://www.culture.com.hk/all/album63/LesSaison002.jpg

The bit by the two pink buildings is Yau Tong.

The place Eric posted is further west (to the left) in the picture - taken from Les Saisons in Sai Wan Ho

^^ Lovely and perfect. You can find any picture with any angle you want. =)
The picture I posted is that "cliff", fourth mountain peak from the right.
The other three mountain peaks on the right are all between about 200 and 230+m above sea level. If we put any 200+m building over there, we are gonna lose the background. The ordinance for Hong Kong Island allows building as high as 80% of the mountain back; if it is the same here, it means the buildings are allowed to be in the 160m range.

It also seems like there is some excavation going on behind Yau Tong, too.
That's probably the new tunnel towards Tiu Keng Leng under construction.

Some renderings form the DLN site

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/3119068719_2c8b95d7fa_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/3119068871_234208fba6_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/3119896230_2479f0464a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3119896444_74f194cf9c_o.jpg

If only it would be built with an innovative design like that...

A HKer can dream.

Well I'm definitely not against putting a limit to protect the mountain ridge, but look that the group of buildings right in front of that mine/cliff. All the gov't housing are the same height and it looks so fugly. Maybe it's Lam Tin over there?

I prefer the look of Kwun Tong, with all the singular buildings with varying heights the skyline looks much more vibrant.

That's Lam Tin/Sau Mau Ping.

Yea, variation is needed, and this doesn't extend just to Goverment public housing - look at Kowloon Bay. Some really good buildings down there, but it looks odd cos they're all almost exactly the same height.

Density of Yau Tong Bay development may be halved
7 March 2008
South China Morning Post

Development density at Yau Tong Bay would be halved under a new set of planning controls, including a 120 metre height limit, proposed by the Planning Department.

The new restrictions, submitted in a paper to the Town Planning Board, would force the Henderson Land consortium, which owns more than 80 per cent of the area, to reduce its proposed development scale by a further 10 per cent. The planning board will discuss the new restrictions today.

The planning board first approved the plan, but reconsidered after the Court of Final Appeal ruled out the possibility of reclaiming Victoria Harbour in 2004.

The consortium then submitted three new options to the planning board last year after the site area was shrunk to 9 hectares without reclamation. The number of towers was reduced to between 12 and 14, each with 26 to 48 storeys.

The gross floor area was also trimmed by about 45 per cent to 498,996 square metres, housing about 5,800 flats.

But the plan was criticised as still too massive by board members, who later asked the Planning Department to impose clear restrictions.

Under the proposal being discussed today, the consortium would have to cut the maximum gross floor area by a further 10 per cent to 447,381 square metres - less than half of the 2002 proposal - with only 5,456 flats. The consortium would be allowed to build up to 18 towers of nine to 31 storeys, but they should appear stepped in height and not be higher than 120 metres.

A 30-metre-wide non-building area should also be kept between towers to facilitate ventilation.

"We prefer fewer but higher towers," said a consultant commissioned by the consortium, arguing that fewer buildings would minimise the visual impact upon Yau Mei Court and allow more open space for the public.

The consultant was concerned, however, that the usable area of the residential buildings would be further reduced if the 30-metre visual corridor between buildings were requested.

The department said the redevelopment should bring benefits to the local community by phasing out industrial operations, resolving environmental problems such as the stench from the bay, and enhancing the waterfront for public enjoyment.

The consortium would also be required to reserve waterfront areas for a 20-metre-wide promenade.

By 鄧麗欣之戀 from skyscrapers.cn :

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/20080407_b8347f074866d5e0349bAbnoUTQSb8Ll.jpg

So are they actually going ahead with the last post on the previous page?

Pilot green project for estate
21 February 2007
The Standard

A new public housing estate in Yau Tong will have green roofs and vertical panels as part of the Housing Department's measures to test greening at its urban housing projects.

The greening system for the Eastern Harbour Crossing Phase 4 in Yau Tong will comprise prefabricated green panels that can be mounted on vertical surfaces or installed on the roofs on buildings.

Deputy Director of Housing Ada Fung Yin-suen said Tuesday the department has always attached importance to environmental protection, noting that greenery has been planted on the rooftops of some of its shopping arcades, carparks and small structures.

The panels earmarked for EHC Phase 4 enable easy on- site installation and maintenance, Fung said.

To test the most optimal soil and plant species mix for the panels, trial panels will be installed on site during the construction stage and relocated to their permanent locations upon completion of the project.

EHC Phase 4, scheduled to be completed in mid-2009, comprises three 41-story blocks with 2,369 flats. A total of 2,650 square meters of green space will be provided.

All roofs at EHC Phase 4, including lift towers and ground floor canopies, will be greened. Horizontal trellises will be provided on both sides of the footbridge and double deck walkways to allow climbing plants to grow.

Greenery on roofs offer a range of benefits such as helping to reduce the heat island effect, improving insulation, energy efficiency and the buildings' appearance.

Hoarding panels at the EHC Phase 4 construction site, which will serve as dust and noise screening devices, can be dismantled and moved to other construction sites if necessary.

``To improve the visual effects of man-made slopes and high retaining walls, all phases of EHC will carry out greening works on slopes and wall surfaces as far as possible to improve the overall environmental quality to increase green coverage and reduce the heat island effect of the [residential] blocks,'' Fung said.

Different design measures will be adopted to cope with specific site conditions and constraints.

Henderson Land sees sharp sales slump Developer says transactions to bring in less than HK$10b but tips rebound next year
9 December 2008
South China Morning Post

Henderson Land Development says the company's property sales this financial year will see a sharp decline from last year's HK$24 billion, reflecting the U-turn in the sector in the past few months.

Chairman Lee Shau-kee said, however, that the worst of the property slump was over and he anticipated the property industry would see a recovery in the second half of next year.

Speaking after the company's annual general meeting yesterday, vice-chairman Colin Lam Ko-yin said the company might receive less than HK$10 billion from property sales for this financial year to June.

The company did not have many projects on offer this year as the market slowed, Mr Lam said.

Home prices have dropped 20 to 30 per cent in various districts since September, according to estate agents.

Some analysts have predicted capital values might fall a further 30 per cent.

"The fall could extend to 2010, subject to economic developments in the city," said Marcos Chan Kam-ping, the head of international property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle's research department.

However, Mr Lee was more optimistic.

"Following a sharp decline in home prices, we will see a consolidation in the first half of next year, with limited ups and downs" he said.

"If the global economic outlook improves in the second half, the [property] market hopefully will recover."

Mr Lee said the downturn in the property market had not put pressure on the company as it had not bought sites at high prices when the market boomed last year.

The slow market conditions, on the other hand, had provided the company a good opportunity to replenish its land bank at low prices, he said.

"The property market overall has moved downward this year," Mr Lam said.

"Premiums to be paid to the government for any conversion of agricultural sites should be lower now than those in the past year or so."

Sites in Hong Kong that Henderson plans to convert from farm land include the Wu Kai Sha site in Sha Tin, as well as old shipyard areas at Yau Tong Bay in eastern Kowloon.

Commenting on the stock market's performance, Mr Lee said it was difficult to predict when the Hang Seng Index would reach its bottom.

Despite a surge of 1,198.78 points in the index yesterday, Mr Lee said he would not recommend investors enter the market now.

Meanwhile, Henderson Investment - 67.9 per cent owned by Henderson Land - is still in talks about selling a stake of 60 per cent in Hangzhou Henderson Qianjiang Third Bridge and 70 per cent in Maanshan Huan Tong Highway Development to its joint-venture partners.

Mr Lam refused to comment on whether Henderson Land would privatise Henderson Investment when the two core projects were sold.

Source : http://www.pbase.com/tasminip/

http://www.pbase.com/tasminip/image/43491020.jpg

東九新戰線 油塘嘉賢居下月推
17 July 2009
香港經濟日報

http://property.mpfinance.com/ftp/Property/20090618/paa01/_18LB007_.jpg

將軍澳日出康城2期領都開售消息下，其他發展商亦嚴陣以待，部署趁勢推出餘貨及新盤，令東九龍及東南九龍陷入新盤混戰局面。

除新地（00016）及新世界（00017）旗下紅磡海濱南岸部署短期推出第3座單位外，恆地（00012）營業部總經理林達民昨於記者會上表示，旗下油塘草園街8號嘉賢居亦最快於8月推出，分層單位目標呎價8,500元。

恆地旗下油塘嘉賢居，於將軍澳新都城中心2期商場進行首場路演，林達民表示，項目共涉185伙，提供面積介乎696至2,526平方呎的2房至4房單位，並以中產買家為主要客源，預計分層目標呎價約8,500元，特色單位則介乎1.4萬至1.5萬元。

林氏補充，待完成3場路演後，集團就會委託地產代理進行推廣及開放現樓予代理參觀。而項目位於旺角百匯軒的示範單位，則會於8月開放予買家參觀。

海濱南岸晤代理 部署收票

另一邊廂，新地昨日亦約見區內代理，商討紅磡海濱南岸第3座推售事宜。

市場人士表示，雖發展商指開售時間需視乎地產代理的收票數量，但相信項目有望本月內推出，預計目標呎價約7,000元。目前，倘不計算第3座350個單位，海濱南岸僅有兩伙餘貨。當中1座低層K室，面積630平方呎，售價380萬元，平均呎價6,032元。

其實，除上述項目外，華懋旗下九龍城豪門一期及新地旗下新浦崗譽．港灣，目前分別有約100伙及少於150伙餘貨。前者則繼續開放高層特色單位的示範單位吸客，而後者亦推售一房單位來盡吸市場游資。可見，東南九龍在多個新盤的夾擊下，相信一場龍爭虎鬥即將出現。

By fatshe :

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By dlmc from dchome :

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Source : http://www.pbase.com/bono/leiyuemun

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嘉賢居 近看維港 遠眺大嶼山 油塘最「潮」新派住宅
(明報)2009年8月8日 星期六 05:05

【明報專訊】近年銳意打造「第二代分層豪宅」的恒基地產，繼早前推出大角嘴 「亮賢居」、上水 「御景峰」後，最新登場的「嘉賢居」，是油塘區內繼06年初開售「鯉灣天下 」之後，過去3年來唯一的全新私人發展樓盤。作為恒地系「第二代豪宅」的第三炮，嘉賢居秉承高格調路線，無論是物業外形、單位內部配套，整體設計均強調「時尚」品味，成為區內最「潮」的新派住宅。

嘉賢居除單位用料、廚廁配套與同系港島東代表作「嘉亨灣 」屬相同級數外，住宅部分建於20多米高的基座上，中低層單位已擁有開揚的維港、港九市區景致，高層單位在天朗氣清時，視線更加遠及昂船洲大橋、大嶼山 ，氣勢懾人。

位處油塘草原街的嘉賢居屬單幢項目，單位總數185伙，標準樓層分佈於6至37樓（5樓單位附連私家平台花園，歸入特色戶型），每層設6伙，基本上可細分為3組：A、B室屬1000餘方呎3房單位（另連工人房），是嘉賢居最大一款標準戶型；C、D室同屬730餘方呎兩房單位；E、F室分別屬940及 737方呎的3、2房單位。單位平均實用率約78％，雖未及八成，但整體官感算方正，無論廚房、大廳或房間均顯得四平八穩，不見有「三尖八角」的情况。

可自製相連單位

最特別之處，是每組單位互相緊連，家庭成員較多的買家若有足夠財力，又有實際需要的話，除可一口氣連購兩個單位外，更可將兩個單位打通（因中間並非主力牆），自行打造相連大戶。舉例說，A、B單位打通後就變為一套面積達2042方呎、擁有6間房（雙套房、另加兩間士多房）的大宅。就算是原作為細單位的C、D室，打通後亦將變成一套1460餘方呎、擁有4間房的大單位，愜意非常。

嘉賢居除物業外形與嘉亨灣、御景峰一脈相承外，單位內部配套，亦秉承恒地系「第二代豪宅」所有元素，最明顯例子是廚房、浴室提供的標準設施，均選用中上價、在市場上具相當知名度的歐洲品牌（見表），以及裝置過往只見諸於豪宅的廚房（或浴室）專用的微型液晶體電視。

標準單位樓高10呎4吋

另一值得注意的，是作為最大一款標準戶型的B室（1042方呎），主人套房的浴室裝設有近乎落地的圓拱形觀景玻璃窗，配合橢圓型浴缸，令人再次想起嘉亨灣的「Top of The Town」大宅。此外，各標準單位的樓底高度皆達10呎4吋高，也為室內增添不少空間感。

至於恒地系樓盤近年的「指定動作」，是將物業最高數層打造成「行政樓層」（單位配套質素經過提升），嘉賢居38、39樓就設有5個1300餘至 2500餘方呎的相連、複式大宅，樓底高度加碼至約13呎，是油塘區內迄今最巨型的住宅單位。如當中的2526方呎複式大宅，附設平台花園（176方呎）和天台花園（666方呎），將「屋仔」意念融入分層物業內。

Spectacle focus on mainlanders
5 August 2009
The Standard

Henderson Land Development (0012) is to hold an exhibition in Changsha, partly aimed at mainlanders interested in buying flats at The Spectacle, the Yau Tong project it has developed with Hong Kong Ferry (0050).

A price list for the single-building development is expected to be available next week.

According to Thomas Lam Tat-man, sales general manager at Henderson, the smallest flat may cost around HK$4 million, or around HK$6,000 per square foot.

The 32-story Spectacle has 185 flats, ranging from 696 to 2,526 sq ft. Apartments on the lower floors will be included in the first batch to be sold. Henderson said it spent HK$80 million on a clubhouse.

Lam also said prices at Henderson's luxury Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho recently hit a season high of HK$17,500 psf.

``The Spectacle cannot be compared to Grand Promenade, which is in an urban area,'' said Terry Ng Miu-chong, associate district manager at Midland Holdings. ``But given its proximity to the MTR station it is highly practical.''

Ng said the only comparable project is the nearby Canaryside, whose flats cost around HK$5,000 psf in the secondary market.

Because of a shortage of flats of more than 900 sq ft in nearby Lam Tin, Ng expects The Spectacle to attract a number of homeowners, some of whom may join two flats.

Henderson is holding an exhibition in Changsha, Hunan, on August 14 and 15 to promote the company. It is likely to conduct a viewing tour for prospective buyers of its new projects early next month, but may also make special arrangements for those interested in The Spectacle.

The company will open two showrooms on Saturday.

Because it's also important to protect the unique mountain ridge line that we have besides economic development.

New World plans master stroke over TST project
24 August 2009
The Standard

New World Development (0017) plans to launch its Tsim Sha Tsui luxury residential project The Masterpiece this week at prices close to prevailing levels in the vicinity.

The company will initially market 20 percent of the total 345 units, said Jeff Lau Chung-leung, a senior manager in sales and marketing. He said the first price list will be released this week, and units available for purchase 24 hours after that.

New World aims to sell flats with sea views at prices of more than HK$20,000 per square foot, while regular units will start at HK$14,000 psf, Lau said. Premium units are expected to exceed HK$35,000 psf.

He said show flats of The Masterpiece, a joint development with the Urban Renewal Authority, located on Hanoi Road, attracted more than 300 groups of prospective buyers yesterday.

Commenting on media reports that said sales began last week, Lau said New World only started taking registrations of interest from VIPs and friends.

Earlier, Hang Lung Properties (0101) sold more than 400 flats in one week at luxury residence The Harbourside, atop Kowloon Station, at an average selling price of HK$15,000 psf.

Henderson Land Development (0012) added six units at Yau Tong project, The Spectacle, to the market yesterday at HK$5,423 psf on average, according to sales general manager Thomas Lam Tat-man. On Saturday, the firm added 20 units.

Henderson intends to raise prices by 5 percent soon, starting with three- bedroom units, he said.

It has put 60 to 70 units on the market at about HK$5,500 and HK$5,600 psf, Lam said. Market sources said more than 60 flats have sold since the launch on Friday. The project comprises 185 units.

Bank homes in on property
7 August 2009
The Standard

Rising rents and property prices have led Credit Suisse to raise its net asset value estimates for a number of local developers.

The bank said property prices have increased by 21 percent since the beginning of the year and will stay flat for the rest of 2009.

Credit Suisse upgraded Hysan Development (0014), Swire Pacific (0019) and Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) and Singapore-listed Hongkong Land to ``outperform'' from ``neutral.''

Henderson Land Development (0012) was also upgraded to ``outperform'' as it prepares to launch its Yau Tong residential project The Spectacle.

Henderson will start by selling 20 flats by tomorrow at the earliest, sales general manager Thomas Lam Tat-man said yesterday, adding there is a 50 percent chance that a price list will come out today.

The developer may sell flats in the 32-story building at HK$8,500 per square foot, but prices may rise by 10 percent within two months.

Lam said some potential buyers have shown interest in five big flats on the higher floors, with one offering to pay over HK$12,000 psf. Henderson expects to reap HK$1.4 billion from the 185-unit project.

Cheung Kong (Holdings) (0001) will sell 10 three-bedroom units in Le Prestige at HK$3.93 million each, or HK$3,733 psf, to buyers who pay immediately.

The developer is still keeping a small number of sea-view flats on the lower levels in Block 3.

Cheung Kong has sold over 1,620 of the 1,688 apartments in the Tseung Kwan O project, reaping more than HK$8 billion.

It's a nightmare, says factory boss caught in a web of red tape
13 October 2009
South China Morning Post

A factory owner has complained about the difficulties of reusing his waterfront factory due to red tape and town planning procedures.

Eddie Li Sau-hung, managing director of Campell International, which owns the 13-storey Wing Shan Factory Building in Yau Tong Bay, said he hoped the chief executive's policy address would deliver measures to streamline the administrative process and provide more support to factory owners who want to convert their properties for business use.

Li, vice-president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said it took him almost five years to get government approval to convert the 40-year-old building, which is now half vacant, into an exhibition centre showcasing local-brand products. "First you have to go to the Town Planning Board to apply for change of land use," he said. "You also need approval from the buildings, fire services and environmental protection departments.

"Altogether you need to deal with seven or even eight departments," he said. When departments had different views about the proposals, the work became tougher and took even longer, he said.

Li sealed the deal earlier this year when he paid a premium of several hundred million dollars, but when he wanted to change his plan by adding a hotel to the building to provide accommodation for overseas businessmen, he met more obstacles.

The Town Planning Board would not consider his new proposal because his site was zoned into a "comprehensive development area", with other sites nearby owned by other developers who plan to turn the area into a residential estate.

The board said Li should wait for the other developers to submit an integrated plan together. "I don't know how long I need to wait," he said. He has written to the Development Opportunities Office, under the Development Bureau, for advice.

A spokeswoman for the office said it would not comment on individual cases but would later report to the Legislative Council on the plans it supported for their economic and social benefit.

嘉賢居 by fatshe :

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Public demand to set pace of HOS flat sales
31 October 2009
South China Morning Post

Future sales of the Home Ownership Scheme flats will depend on the public response to the latest batch, Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng said yesterday.

Cheng was speaking on the first day of the sale of 1,392 HOS flats, which are among the 16,000 surplus the Housing Authority started to sell in phases from 2007. The authority plans to sell another 4,000 flats next year.

"We will launch the remaining flats in phases in an orderly way. Of course, we will watch the public response," Cheng said, adding the government would be prudent about the timing.

The public response has been overwhelming, with thousands of people flocking to see show flats and snap up application forms at the authority's customer services centre. According to the Housing Authority, 22,000 people had visited the show flats by 7pm yesterday.

About 20 people had lined up outside the customer services centre in Lok Fu before it opened at 8am and by midday about 5,000 people had picked up forms, with each person entitled to up to three forms.

Among them were parents taking forms for their children, newly married couples who could only afford to buy a subsidised flat, young people and homeowners hoping to move from small flats to bigger ones.

The latest batch comprises 370 flats in Yau Chui Court, Yau Tong, and 1,022 scattered around Kowloon and the New Territories. The cheapest is a 280 sq ft flat in Po Ming Court, Tseung Kwan O, priced at HK$460,000 while the most expensive ones are seaview flats on upper floors at Yau Chui Court, which are selling for HK$2.29 million each.

Wong Pang-kui, who lives in a rented flat in North Point with his wife and child, was looking for a 400 sq ft flat in Yau Tong. With a family income of around HK$10,000, he said the prices of some HOS flats were more expensive than he had expected.

"It is not good to have such high prices, like over HK$2 million for a flat in Yau Chui Court," he said, adding he hoped the government would build more HOS flats "to give more options".

The huge number of bargain hunters weakened the confidence of Man Chun-kit, 26, who wants to buy a flat and get married. "I never expected there would be so many people," he said. "I've been working a few years and need to move out my parents' house."

Construction of HOS flats was suspended in 2002 to help stabilise the property market. The scheme allows people who cannot afford private homes to buy flats at subsidised prices.

LDAC supports proposed conversion of industrial building in Yau Tong
13 May 2010
Government Press Release

The Land and Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) at its meeting today (May 13) supported the proposed conversion of a flatted industrial building in Yau Tong for hotel and commercial uses.

The proposal, submitted by Ever Sun International Holdings Limited, will convert Wing Shan Industrial Building in Yau Tong for hotel cum commercial uses, including exposition space and gallery, hotel and catering facilities, shops and services, storage, packaging and delivery services.

Members supported the proposal to set back the existing building by 20 metres to provide space for a waterfront promenade along Yau Tong Bay for public enjoyment.

Members also noted that the proposal was broadly in line with the Government's policy to promote revitalisation of industrial buildings through wholesale conversion. Compared with redevelopment, the proposal is more sustainable and environmentally friendly, as it puts a currently under-utilised industrial building to more productive uses and helps reduce the construction waste that might be generated.

The proposal is subject to the Town Planning Board's approval. It will not be eligible for a nil waiver fee as the building is not situated in one of the designated planning zones where the new revitalisation measure is applicable.

At today's meeting, the LDAC also gave its support to the proposed relocation of Kowloon City Baptist Church (KCBC) from its existing building at Argyle Street to a new purpose-designed building at Tung Lei Road, Kowloon City.

Members noted that this proposed project would provide the necessary space for KCBC to meet the growing needs for religious and social services of the Kowloon City community, such as worship services, fellowship activities, and the church's community outreach services for youth, the elderly and families.

Members were also consulted on preliminary proposals by the Steering Committee on Review of the Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) on the future directions of urban renewal strategy. The review of the urban renewal strategy, launched by the Development Bureau in July 2008, is now into its final and most important stage: consensus building.

Members generally welcomed the steering committee's preliminary proposals. The Development Bureau will continue to listen to public views and re-draft the URS by the end of this year.

11/27

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10-year wait on harbourside homes to end
Project to build 5,200 small to medium-sized flats on old docks in East Kowloon bay goes before planning board after decade of revisions
Friday, 08 February, 2013, 12:00am
South China Morning Post Excerpt

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A massive private development in east Kowloon big enough to provide 5,200 flats in the next six years will be scrutinised by the Town Planning Board today after staying on the drawing board for a decade.

The Planning Department says, in a paper advising the board, that it has "no in-principle objection" to the Yau Tong Bay project proposed by a consortium led by Henderson Land Development.

"The application site is readily available for construction and would provide a significant number of small to medium-sized residential flats to meet the market demand," the developers have said, according to the paper.

The site, covering a total area of 99,000 square metres beside the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and zoned as a "comprehensive development area", is formerly an industrial area occupied by dockyards and wood workshops.

The project has been revised several times since it was first proposed in 2002. It now comprises 28 apartment blocks, four hotels, shops, and facilities for children and families, and is intended to be completed in two phases - the first by 2017 and the second by 2019.

A marina has been dropped because of technical difficulties and legal restrictions on reclamation from the harbour. A harbourside promenade will be built by the developers and it will link up with Yau Tong MTR station.

The consortium has acquired 83 per cent of the land, with the rest owned by the government and a few individual landlords, including an industrialist who wants to convert his factory block into a hotel.

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The abandoned shipyards :

Source : http://www.pbase.com/hmlai88

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