Relocation of Gov't buildings broached

[Aboveday]

Relocation of Gov't buildings broached
February 27, 2008



Financial Secretary John Tsang will study relocating three government office buildings at the Wan Chai waterfront to new districts such as the Kai Tak Development Area and Tseung Kwan O.



This will free some land in the central business districts for developing Grade A offices and give fresh impetus to the new districts and add job opportunities there, Mr Tsang said in his 2008-09 Budget speech today.



He explained more sites for such offices in central business districts must be identified to keep the city's economy growing, and it is not necessary for all government office buildings to be located in these areas.



Land supply

In view of the upward pressure on both property prices and rent due to rising demand, the Financial Secretary said the Government will increase land supply, noting the 2008-09 Application List to be unveiled by the Development Bureau shortly will increase the number of sites from last year's 47 to 62, covering a total area of 60 hectares.



To provide a better living environment, Mr Tsang added each site will state the relevant development parameters like building height, permitted floor area and ventilation requirements. The bureau is also reviewing several districts' outline zoning plans for the same purpose - even though the measures will result in reduced revenue.



Mr Tsang stressed the Government has no intention of changing the Application List System and resuming scheduled land auctions, saying the system works well and prevents the Government from interfering with market operation unnecessarily.



Temporary use

To use land resources more proactively and flexibly, he said the Development Bureau is studying how best to make use of two sites of about 14 hectares next to the Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai North.



The Lands Department will also liaise with District Councils to study ways of putting vacant land not needed in the short term to better use, such as beautifying it or converting it to other temporary public use.



In the next few months, the Development Bureau and the Urban Renewal Authority will conduct a strategy review.

[Aboveday]

灣仔遷3政府大樓擬建商廈
估值200億 入境處稅局等遷啟德將軍澳 2008年2月28日


【明報專訊】政府銳意增加港島核心商業區的甲級商廈用地，昨日在預算案中首次披露，正積極研究將佔地1.3公頃的灣仔海旁3座政府大樓搬遷至啟德和將軍澳新區，令這塊被稅務局及入境處等部門使用了10多年的海景地王「復活」，測量界預料地皮可興建成樓面達200萬平方呎的甲級商廈，規模媲美中環國金二期，估值高達200億元。

港島核心商業區的甲級寫字樓供應持續短缺，據規劃署早前完成的「香港2030」研究指出，甲級商廈地皮供應仍可滿足未來數年的需求，但至2030年，需求將高達2905萬平方呎，即政府在未來20年，需在商業中心區內覓地增建10座相當於「國金二期」的甲級寫字樓。

財政司長曾俊華昨日在預算案指出，目前有部分政府辦公大樓坐落核心商業區，但從經濟發展及土地資源角度，並非所有政府辦公大樓都必須位於核心商業區，政府為了在核心商業區內物色更多甲級商業地皮，將積極研究把位於灣仔海旁的3座政府辦公大樓遷離，選址包括啟德新發展區及將軍澳等，騰出的土地可用以興建甲級寫字樓。

影響共26部門逾萬人

政府發言人補充，3座大樓分別為灣仔政府大樓、稅務大樓及入境事務大樓，在1986年、1990年及1991分期落成，地盤面積13.3公頃，3座大樓的總作業樓面達187萬平方呎。

發言人指出，現時共有26部門在3座大樓內辦公，主要有稅務局、入境事務處及區域法院等，約有1.1萬名政府員工在內工作。發言人續稱，不同部門對搬離現址可能存在不同的區域要求，政府現正做內部評估，探討可行方案。

促改善交通配套

測量師彭兆基表示，地皮騰空後，樓面呎價可達1萬元，以可建樓面約200萬平方呎計算，地皮估值可高達200億。

美聯工商舖董事黃漢成表示，措施有利鞏固灣仔北的核心商業區地位，同時紓緩中區、灣仔於未來數年「零」甲級商廈供應問題。他建議進一步改善灣仔北之交通配套，令中環、金鐘及灣仔北三地可連成一線，形成更具規模的國際金融商業中心。

[EricIsHim]

I agree many government offices can be relocated to a less prime location; but taking the three fairly new buildings down to build new buildings? Can't they just renovate and/or move stuff around inside?

[Rachmaninov]

Well... HK sure has its way of tearing down new skyscrapers anyway. And those buildings aren't particularly new in HK standards, especially by the time these plans are realised. I won't mind a new addition to the Wanchai section of our skyline.

[gladisimo]

These actually look fine ><

We should be tearing down ugly commieblocks! (Yes, I know developers aren't primarily concerned with aesthetics, blah blah blah, I'm talking about MY preference, lol)