HONG KONG | Projects & Construction

[hkskyline]

Errant builders will not face instant sales bar
The Standard
Tuesday, April 30, 2013



Sales of new units would not be suspended immediately even if projects are found to violate the related ordinance.

The Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance, which came into effect yesterday, does not require developers to halt sales in case of violation of its requirements.

That is according to the newly set up Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Authority, which said the rules aim to enhance transparency as developers can now only advertise sellable area for flats, instead of gross floor area as well.

Authority director Eugene Fung Kin-yip said: "It is not a penalty under the ordinance ... to impose stoppage of sale for non- compliance."

The 32-member body will refer a case to the Department of Justice for action if its own probe reveals likely breaches.

However, "serious" breaches will be disclosed for the sake of "consumer protection," Fung said.

He said fresh documents submitted by Hong Kong Ferry (0050) and Swire Properties (1972) are so far more or less in line with the rules.

Hong Kong Ferry handed in new sales brochures, price lists and promotional materials for Green Code, in Fan Ling, while Swire Properties' papers were for Dunbar Place, Ho Man Tin.

Both were asked last week to amend their new sales brochures, including revising flat dimensions in the floor plan.

But authority representatives sent to check Green Code show flats yesterday said there is room for improvement.

There was a slight difference between dimensions in the show flat and those described in the sales brochure due to the application of paint, the authority said, adding this should be explained to buyers via notices in the show flat. Sales at the 728-unit project were launched early last month.

Also, property agents suspect that undercover Estate Agents Authority representatives visited the Dunbar Place sales office at Cityplaza in Tai Koo, after some were asked how many new flats had been reserved. Pre-sale reservation of flats is not allowed under the new law.

A spokeswoman declined to comment, but told The Standard that the watchdog will always use the most effective way to run checks.

The 53-unit Dunbar Place starts sales at 11am today on a first-come, first-served basis. Thirty flats priced at an average of HK$20,869 per sellable square foot will be available.

[hkskyline]

PLA headquarters is under wraps :

Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/584/5843843.html

[Jaroslaw]

Does anyone know what is going up near the Sun Yat Sen museum on Caine Road, just W of the Midlevels escalators? It looks like a huge project, but I wasn't able to find any info online...

I will post some pics later, when I get the dust out of my camera.

[hkskyline]

MTRC seeks extra in Yuen Long
The Standard
Tuesday, May 07, 2013



MTR Corp (0066) is asking for an extra HK$193 million in addition to the bidding price for the right to build flats atop the West Rail Long Ping South station in Yuen Long.

The railway operator yesterday invited tenders for the site, the first to be sold since the sale of another MTR plot, at Tin Wing Light Rail station, fell through in February.

The 90,396-square-foot site in Yuen Long is expected to fetch between HK$1.45 billion and HK$1.63 billion.

With gross floor area of 451,980 sq ft, the site is estimated to be worth HK$3,200-3,600 per sq ft. Three-fifths of the 720 units, or 432 flats, to be built on the site cannot exceed 538 sq ft.

The forecasts are similar to the land prices of two plots sold earlier in Long Ping North. MTRC received an overwhelming 20 expressions of interest for the Long Ping South site.

Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) deputy managing director Victor Lui Ting said the firm is keen to develop the site alone. K Wah and Lai Sun Development (0488) said they are interested.

Meanwhile, Henderson Land (0012) yesterday applied for compulsory auction for the titles of two old buildings at 1-3 Yuet Yuen Street, North Point, for redevelopment.

The developer now holds 87.5 percent of the titles. The two buildings are expected to cost HK$48.18 million. A third building is still being acquired.

[hkskyline]

Ecologists voice fears over planned housing in Tai Po
Green groups say Henderson's plan to rezone Tai Po area and use dump site for homes could harm wildlife and lead to loss of arable land
Monday, 13 May, 2013
South China Morning Post

A major property developer is planning to turn Tai Po farmland, including a notorious dumping spot for construction waste, into a housing estate and calling it an ecological enhancement area.

The plan to build 267 three-storey houses met with opposition from green groups that said about five hectares of the site in She Shan Village in Lam Tsuen was buried under waste. They feared approval of the plan would encourage a "destroy first and build later" approach.

They were also concerned the development was too close to ecologically sensitive areas, including a fung shui wood and the home of a rare dragonfly, and that it would destroy arable areas.

The developer, Henderson Land, said it had no connection with the dumping. It added that it would be removing a third of the dumped material later this year to meet slope maintenance requirements. It also stressed it would strike a balance between ecology and housing, with up to 35 per cent of the site devoted to conservation.

A spokeswoman said the company would be consulting the public about the proposal, which it began working on in 2010. "But our plan is still at a conceptual stage," she added.

Henderson is the main landlord of the 19-hectare site. The previous owner bought the land from relatives of New Territories strongman Lau Wong-fat for HK$90 million in 2005. Wheelock Properties owns part of the site.

The developer has asked the Town Planning Board to rezone the site from agricultural use.

The ecological enhancement area covers seven hectares and includes a woodland corridor, a butterfly garden, organic farms and a dragonfly pond. There will also be a visitor centre providing guided tours. The scheduled completion date is 2019.

A land-use loophole saw part of the site used as a dumping ground back in 2004. "The development will indirectly encourage the malpractice of destroying first and building later," said Peter Li Siu-man, senior campaign manager of Conservancy Association.

Li said the proposed rezoning also meant some precious farmland would be gone forever.

Captain Wong Lun-cheong, Henderson's ecologist, said about four hectares of active farmland would be lost.

He also said the surrounding area was already densely developed with village houses, and a study had indicated the area was of low ecological value.

[hkskyline]

Giants take new swing at eyesore boatyard
The Standard
Wednesday, May 15, 2013



An industrial boatyard in Ap Lei Chau, located next to a luxury residential project, may be converted into a mixed-development facility that features a yacht center.

Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016), Kerry Properties (0683), and Paliburg (0617), which developed Larvotto, facing the Aberdeen Harbour, have applied to the Town Planning Board to transform the 256,775-square-foot government site.

It is located in the east of Praya Road and is used as an industrial boatyard and for engineering workshops that serve the local fishing fleet.

"The visual dilapidation of the industrial buildings in the area contrasts with the modern residential facade of Larvotto," the developers noted in the application.

They believe the industrial nature of the site is a constant cause of visual, air and noise pollution along with being a potential safety hazard.

If approved, the yacht center will yield a gross floor area of 146,505 sq ft. It will include an exhibition and convention hall for the marine industry. Around 57,998 sq ft of the area will be allocated for recreational facilities.

More than one third of the area will be reserved for boatyards, where boats can be built and repaired.

In August, the developers sought to rezone the area but the Town Planning Board rejected their idea. The Southern District Council had told the board there is no harm in having boatyards next to a luxury residential project.

[hkskyline]

MTR puts noise fears to rest
The Standard
Wednesday, May 29, 2013



An innovative approach to building a viaduct section at night will mean fewer sleepless nights for residents along the MTR's South Island Line (East), the rail operator said.

For beam-and-winch viaduct erection equipment, being used for the first time in Hong Kong, is likely to cut down on construction time.

Traditional equipment takes one to two months to set up and needs significant road closures all day long.

The new equipment takes about two weeks to set up and roads can remain open in the daytime.

The line's lead project manager, Mark Cuzner, said the new machines take less time to deliver as well.

The two-kilometer viaduct section will run from the Aberdeen Tunnel toll plaza to Ap Lei Chau, taking in the Ocean Park and Wong Chuk Hang stations.

The precast concrete viaduct deck sections involve 628 segments and are fitted into place using equipment from Italy, which is one-tenth the size of a typical viaduct launching gantry.

Though the total construction time of the viaduct remains the same for both new and old methods, the new equipment negates the need for large-scale or long-term road closures.

"In terms of advantages, I think fundamentally it minimizes destruction. It also takes account of the size and condition we have, particularly the limited work in the area and also offers the flexibility in terms of how we do the work," said Cuzner.

The seven-kilometer line will connect the southern part of Hong Kong Island to the existing MTR network.

A five-kilometer stretch is being built underground and a two-kilometer span on the viaduct.

Construction, which began in May 2011, is expected to be completed in 2015.

Currently, about 35 percent of the civil engineering work has been completed.

Cuzner also said MTR Corp will complete the project within the budget of HK$12.6 billion.

He added that the MTRC will consider using the new technique in other projects, particularly if conditions are similar.

[davidwilliam7854]

After standing sentinel at one of Tsim Sha Tsui's busiest intersections for 39 years, the Tung Ying Building at Nathan Road is set to be bulldozed for a flashy new shopping centre.
A source at Chinese Estates Holdings, which bought the 17-storey property from the Hotung family in 2002, said the decision to demolish the building was prompted by the consumer spending boom and the revival of the retail property market.

[hkskyline]

Just $1m - and no cash down
The Standard
Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Nothing to pay upfront, and just HK$5,000 a month mortgage. That's the bottom line for 1,000 "starter homes" in a groundbreaking plan by tycoon Lee Shau-kee.

The chairman of Henderson Land Development (0012) - popularly known as Uncle Four - said the government will consider his proposal to donate a plot in Fan Ling that could accommodate the 300-square-foot flats.

Lee has proposed donating land he owns in the New Territories for building homes to be priced at about HK$1 million and sold to the younger generation without the need for any downpayment and monthly installments of just HK$5,000.

But the government, in turn, would have to waive the land premium on the plot and develop infrastructure in the area under Lee's original proposal, details of which were revealed in The Standard in early March.

Responding to Lee yesterday, the Development Bureau said it will proactively consider any suggestion to solve Hong Kong's housing needs.

The Fan Ling site is personally owned by Lee and is valued at between HK$200 and HK$300 million, he told reporters following Henderson's annual general meeting yesterday. It is understood that the site is located in Ma Shi Po village, which falls under areas in the northeast New Territories that the government has said it will develop.

Henderson holds the largest tract - 42.8 million square feet of agricultural land - in the SAR, including 5.4 million sq ft in the northeast New Territories.

Lee said he offered the government seven sites to consider which, if approved, could accommodate a total of 10,000 homes.

Total cost of buying the seven sites could reach HK$1 billion, Lee estimated.

But there are many issues to be solved including planning, transportation and infrastructure, he said, so he would not be surprised if the full extent of the donation cannot be realized.

He denied the donation would be advantageous to Henderson-owned developments in the area. But he spoke favorably about the government, saying it was no longer adhering to the so- called "new town model" which called for reclaiming all land in an area before selling the plots, according to a master plan.

Such a plan was strongly opposed by developers. "I believe [the donation] is a good thing to do. I would only spend HK$1 billion and thousands of people stand to benefit."

Michael Choi Ngai-min, a member of the Long Term Housing Strategy Steering Committee, said Lee's idea of donating land would help relieve social discord and could serve as a model for other developers. But surveyors said even if the government waived the land premium for turning farmland into residential projects, the plan would still have to go through town planning procedures.

As for the property market, Lee said it would remain lackluster and prices would rise by 10 percent at most in the next two years. But he is still bullish on property stocks, having spent HK$2.2 billion in the past year to buy Henderson shares, exchange disclosures show.

[hkskyline]

Tycoon hints at flats first for Yuen Long
The Standard
Thursday, June 06, 2013

A site in Yuen Long, rather than Fan Ling, is likely to kick-start tycoon Lee Shau-kee's proposed joint program with the government to build affordable homes for young people.

Up to 1,000 units, measuring 300 square feet that cost HK$1 million each and require no downpayment, could be built on a site Lee owns in Fan Ling, he said on Monday.

But the chairman of Henderson Land (0012) said yesterday the first set of cheap homes that will require a monthly mortgage installment of just HK$5,000 may be built on a plot he also owns in Yuen Long that could contain in 1,000 units. The Fan Ling site could eventually contain 2,000 to 3,000 units at a later stage, he said.

Lee believes the government will allow either the Housing Authority or the Hong Kong Housing Society to handle the program.

"Whether we can make it or not ultimately depends on consensus from the community," said Lee, following the annual general meeting of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company (0003), of which he is also chairman.

"These two plots [in Yuen long and Fan Ling] are relatively suitable for housing and could be developed and handled easily."

They are part of the seven sites he has offered to donate to the government. But before doing so, he wants to make sure that at a cost of HK$1 billion, he, and not any listed firm linked to him, entirely owns all the plots.

This is to ensure that no part of the housing program requires any shareholder approval.

Housing Authority and Housing Society spokesmen said they were not involved in discussions concerning the plan, which would allow Lee to convert some of his vast holdings of farmland into residential use without paying any land premium.

Lui Che-woo, chairman of real estate developer K. Wah International Holdings (0173), declined to comment on the plan. Lui said home price gains will slow this year amid cooling efforts.

[hkskyline]

High hopes after Lantau zipline group tries again
The Standard
Wednesday, June 05, 2013

A British tour group is proposing new locations for a zipline tour on Lantau in its latest attempt to gain approval for the project.

The group, Flying Fox, is a commercial partner of popular cable car attraction Ngong Ping 360.

An advisory committee of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department successfully opposed the proposal last year.

The Country and Marine Parks Board claimed the Flying Fox proposal to promote an "ecological tour" was only a gimmick and the project just an exciting amusement park game.

The group had proposed a zipline tour near Ngong Ping 360, involving the construction of four new stations for customers.

Ngong Ping 360 managing director Wilson Shao Shing-ming said the latest plan will include locations that are different from the ones rejected earlier by the board.

"Three new sites will be in the plan, one of which will be located at the Ngong Ping market, as it is well-equipped with facilities such as a ticket office, restrooms and restaurants."

Ziplines are cables suspended above slopes to which a pulley and harness are attached. They will be built at a height of 404 to 432 meters with a suspension bridge 15 to 20m above ground.

Flying Fox earlier proposed charging about HK$150 for each customer, and Shao said this is still the case.

Meanwhile, the cable car attraction will be down for three weeks in September to allow for regular maintenance.

A 12m-track rope in the system will be moved from one section to another to prevent it coming under strain from parts that are in contact with the arms of cable cars.

"This is the first time for this to be done since the system began operating in 2006," Weller Chan Kwok-wai, head of cable car operations, said.

The cable car manufacturer in Italy will assist in the work.

Chan also dismissed a report in a Chinese language newspaper that rust was found on cables and parts of cars, saying it was only dirt.

"Our cable cars and the entire system are made from aluminum alloy and have an anti-rust coating. It is very unlikely to be affected by rust," he said.

"Lubricant oil is applied on the track ropes every six months to help the cars run smoothly. The oil is thick and dark brown and may fall on the cars and give the appearance of rust. But it can be cleaned and will not affect the safety of the entire operation."

[hkskyline]

PLA headquarters under renovation
May 30

image hosted on flickr

CBD reflection pt2 :: night by CoolbieRe, on Flickr