HONG KONG | Kai Tak Airport Development News

[Rachmaninov]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

啟德翻生
新規劃五年完成 集旅遊消費住七萬人
18/04/2006
太陽報







【記者楊瑞貞、余志良報道】拖足八年、規劃一改再改的東南九龍啟德發展終露曙光，並可望於二○一一年完成，而啟德明渠的淨化測試工程亦已展開，且訂於今年暑假展開全面淨化。新的規劃融合環保、旅遊及消費於一身，除有大型運動場館及可停泊兩艘巨型郵輪的碼頭外，跑道兩旁設有海濱長廊，跑道末端更會建造仿似倫敦大橋般的開合式大橋。消息稱，新規劃於今年六月最後諮詢後即展開工程。

可靠消息稱，政府有一個強烈意願是要啟德郵輪碼頭於二○一一年落成，故此，規劃部門正被積極催谷盡快完成啟德規劃，而政府近期已將大部分反對聲音消化，並擬訂一個各方均可接納的新方案，期望今年六月最後諮詢時無阻力，並且立即上馬，如期落成。

政府規劃署歸納多方意見，擬訂了一份新規劃大綱圖，凸顯啟德的人口密度大幅降低，將貼近早前「體藝之都」的規劃，只有近七萬人口。

設郵輪碼頭購物大道
郵輪碼頭將會坐落啟德跑道盡頭面向維港方向，初步預算會有兩個巨型郵輪停泊位，可供超過十五萬噸以上超級郵輪停泊，同時碼頭對開是酒店發展區域，會有大型酒店配合郵輪碼頭發展，推動本港吸納豪華郵輪客消費。

規劃不準備填海，但由於啟德跑道附近水深度不足以停泊巨型郵輪，故擬把最初放在跑道下的石柱重新挖起，令巨型郵輪可以泊岸。同時，為了避免把維港景觀遮擋，泊位也由三個減至兩個。

除郵輪碼頭外，帶動旅遊的設計還有啟德購物大道，即跑道兩旁是低密度住宅區，中間的購物大道連接酒店發展區至啟德機場原停機泊位區，購物大道內設有不同種類商店，無論是郵輪旅客或是本港市民，置身購物大道內可購得國際名牌物品。

新規劃的啟德發展區內有兩個大面積公園，分別為現時跑道頭的國際都會公園，以及在酒店區毗鄰的跑道公園，全部會是林蔭夾道設計，兼盡綠化休閒最大的特色。原跑道兩邊亦會開闢兩條海濱長廊，更配合露天茶座，而海濱長廊由跑道頭伸展至跑道末端，途經所有公園酒店購物大道及碼頭，市民能沿路飽覽維港無敵海景。

開合式大橋連接觀塘
新規劃亦擬引入一些世界聞名的特點景色，考慮在跑道末端建造一條連接觀塘碼頭區域的大橋，該大橋的特色是與倫敦大橋相若，橋身是可以吊起開合，讓橋下的輪船經過。

據悉，規劃中亦在酒店區與低密度住宅區之間預留土地，擬作為地標之用，但現時仍未作最後決定，估計是機場博物館。

為推動本港大型運動，靠近宋王臺公園至舊機場停車場大樓一帶，將建一個多用途運動場，供各類球賽活動及大型體育活動使用，運動場可納四萬五千人，建造費料四十五億元。

連接啟德發展區的交通方面，新鐵路沙田中環線會是主要交通工具，鐵路站會設在發展區外圍，發展區內則會有其他不同特色的交通工具，至於會否建造小型火車則需要再研究。

Finally...

[Rachmaninov]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

跑道盡頭興建 樓高10層捱轟
直升機場煞維景
18/04/2006
太陽報


啟德停車場區域將建設為超級運動場，有團體希望能增建鐵路，連接舊城區。 伍永健攝


啟德跑道與九龍灣之間發臭的海水，將透過多種方法改善。 王嘉昌攝



【記者楊瑞貞報道】啟德規劃意見紛紜，現已幾達水到渠成階段，消息稱，如果直升機場的問題解決，其他工程立即可展開。由於直升機場樓高十層，再加上毗鄰的郵輪碼頭，整個維港海岸線均被遮擋，而夾在中間的跑道公園變成「冇景」公園，不少民間團體要求遷移直升機場，「歸還維港公用空間」，若能解決這問題，啟德規劃應再無障礙。

啟德規劃原先擬把直升機場建於郵輪碼頭上蓋，但後來卻改為在跑道末端興建珠三角跨境直升機場。本土文化再造主席林文輝指出，在規劃大綱圖諮詢期間，不少團體均反對在東南九龍興建直升機場，但當局卻顯得非常堅持，原因在於啟德是舊機場，應有部分土地用於飛機升降用途。

林文輝批評當局的想法不合理，又說：「若果要繼續做機場話，咁機場就唔使搬去赤角啦，依家重新規劃啟德土地用途，面對咁多團體反對，都唔明政府當局點解咁堅持，若果要起直升機場，點解唔揀西九起呢？」

不少團體認為維港海景屬於公用空間，市民有權利享用。林文輝指出，直升機場再加上兩個泊位的郵輪碼頭，夾在中間的跑道公園縱是綠化的休憩中心，可謂維港景觀全毀，只能看到觀塘碼頭及起卸區一帶，根本沒有市民會走進這個「冇景公園」，倒頭來公園就變成了直升機場的私人公園，只有乘客可享用，根本不合乎市民共享的原則。

機場博物館無蹤影
對於在啟德區內闢建機場博物館的建議，林文輝批評有關建議現時已不見蹤影，若果舊機場不建機場博物館，卻反而要興建直升機場，當局是本末倒置。另外，有不少團體爭取在區內增建觀光鐵路或觀光電車，以便貫穿跑道公園、購物大道、體育城及宋王臺等地，把新、舊城區連接起來，亦方便市民及旅客到各景點遊覽。

民建聯本周內將向政府提交關於在啟德規劃及周邊發展配套報告，建議把散落各區的政府行政部門集中在東南九龍，除把東南九龍變成行政機構中心外，又要求加快重建九龍城及發展毗鄰三區以帶旺周邊發展。這個建議更被外界質疑是民建聯為「轉」支持添馬艦興建政府總部計劃，而自找下台階。

The helipad should be constructed somewhere nearer to the stadium...

One question: Why don't they let one of the cruise ships park inside the area surrounded by Kwun Tong and the runway itself?

[pookgai]

Originally Posted by Rachmaninov

The helipad should be constructed somewhere nearer to the stadium...

One question: Why don't they let one of the cruise ships park inside the area surrounded by Kwun Tong and the runway itself?

I think this is due to the shallow water in this part of the harbour. It would probably require extensive dredging.

[hkskyline]

Dredging is a major reason why the cruise terminal could not be built in West Kowloon I believe.

[jose_kwan]

the scale is dimishing every time ...
there won't be any major developemnt in hk anymore i guess ...
the west kowloon cultral district is not going any where soon ...
no high rise in central reclamation either ...

[hkskyline]

Swire's Kai Tak Vision
http://www.swireproperties.com/kaitak



Open Space Amenities
O1 Kai Tak Park
O2 Continuous Southeast Kowloon
O3 Kai Tak Ribbon Park
O4 Kai Tak Point

Public Facilities
P1 Kai Tak Stadium
P2 Kowloon Bay Yacht Club
P3 Kowloon Bay Hospital
P4 Schools, including International Schools
P5 MTR/KCR Depot

Residential Neighbourhoods
R1 Kowloon City South
R2 Diamond Foothills
R3 Kai Tak Archipelago
R4 Kowloon Bay Waterfront
R5 Kai Tak Point

[hkskyline]

DAB pushes for one-stop government service at Kai Tak site
27 May 2006
South China Morning Post

The government has been urged to set up a one-stop-shop service centre in southeast Kowloon.

The proposal, by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, is another concession by the party, which had previously advocated moving the government headquarters to the Kai Tak airport site.

When the party changed its stance and backed the administration's Tamar proposal, it said it wanted some government facilities at the southeast Kowloon site. Yesterday's proposal appeared to be a further scaling back of its demands.

However, as it unveiled its southeast Kowloon redevelopment proposal, the DAB dismissed suggestions it had done so in exchange for government support for its plans.

DAB legislator Chan Kam-lam said the party was being practical in dropping its earlier suggestion of relocating the headquarters to southeast Kowloon, since the majority of the Legislative Council would not support it.

"We know it's impossible to move the government headquarters to southeast Kowloon, so we settle for the second best - to have a one-stop government service centre [there]."

Mr Chan explained that since more than 80 per cent of the population lives in Kowloon or the New Territories, it was necessary to build a one-stop service centre, which included frontline sections of various departments, in southeast Kowloon. Doing so would save money by moving some departments away from the high-rent commercial districts, he said.

The DAB had been against building a government headquarters on the harbourfront Tamar site but later threw its weight behind a revised government proposal for a Tamar headquarters.

The party's development proposal for southeast Kowloon envisages building a cruise terminal with two 360-metre berths, a sightseeing tower on the runway of the old Kai Tak airport and a multipurpose sports centre near the Kai Tak station on the Sha Tin-Central rail link. It also proposes building both high- and low-density housing.

Mr Chan said the aim was to turn southeast Kowloon into a vibrant district with tourism, leisure, environmentally friendly housing and government services.

He said the party's proposal had been submitted to the government, which agreed it was feasible.

[hkskyline]

DAB sees service role for Kai Tak
Teddy Ng
27 May 2006
China Daily - Hong Kong Edition

The Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) has proposed that a government services centre and several tourism facilities be housed in southeast Kowloon.

Outlining the southeast Kowloon development proposal yesterday, DAB said it was not necessary to insist on having the new headquarters there instead of the Tamar site in Admiralty.

Party legislator Chan Kam-lam suggested that government departments dealing with public livelihood, such as the Leisure and Cultural Services, Social Welfare, Home Affairs and Inland Revenue departments, be concentrated at the proposed government services centre in southeast Kowloon.

Other government departments functioning from prime sites, such as Invest Hong Kong from Pacific Place and Trade and Industry Department from Mong Kok, too, could be moved to the services centre to save rents, he said, though he conceded that shifting the offices would be a difficult task.

DAB had earlier urged the government to build the new headquarters in southeast Kowloon, and not the Tamar site.

For residents' convenience

There is no need to insist on having the new government headquarters in southeast Kowloon because the proposed services centre could convenience the district's residents.

"Building the government headquarters in southeast Kowloon is quite impossible because we cannot get all members to endorse such a proposal even in the Legislative Council (LegCo). So why should we insist on it?" he said.

Denying that the government's stance on its proposal would affect DAB's decision on supporting the Tamar development plan, Chan said: "I think it is not in exchange for our acceptance of the Tamar project."

Shifting the government headquarters to southeast Kowloon would require three years of planning, delaying the completion of the project, he said.

Apart from the government services centre, DAB also proposed building a series of leisure and tourist facilities at the former airport site. It suggested that at least one international cruise liner terminal, with two 360-metre-long berths, be built on the abandoned airport's runway.

The party also wants the Kai Tak playground, closed in 1982, to be re-opened to provide leisure facilities such as a ferris wheel, a sightseeing tower, computer animation, helicopters and a 1,200-seat theatre for Chinese opera.

A multipurpose sports complex too should be built at Kai Tak station on the Sha Tin-Central Link for recreational activities such as concerts, exhibition and religious functions, it said. Major international sports events could be held in the complex, with a smaller facility for training.

It suggested expanding the Sung Wong Toi Park, a memorial to the last boy emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. Chan said a museum detailing the history of the Song Dynasty should be built in the park, with a community hall with a Song architecture style in Kowloon City.

Another DAB lawmaker Cheung Hok-ming said the redevelopment of old districts in southeast Kowloon should be speeded up. The Sha Tin-Central Link should be completed as early as possible and two bridges linking the Kai Tak runway to Hung Hom should be built. The site's development should be sustainable, complete with a waterfront area.

Kowloon City district councillor Chan King-wong supported the need for an international cruise terminal. Mass transport system, including MTRC, was needed for the site, he said, stressing that environment-friendly light transit system should be provided for communal use within the area.

[hkskyline]

Liner's arrival renews call for cruise terminal
Wendy Leung
30 May 2006
Hong Kong Standard

The arrival of a newly refurbished Italian passenger liner that will operate out of Hong Kong has renewed tourism industry calls for a cruise vessel terminal to be built "as soon as possible.''

Visiting the city Monday was the newly refitted 28,500-tonne Costa Allegra, which will embark on its first official voyage to Japan from Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal in July. It will then return to Hong Kong, from where it will complete 35 round trips to Hainan and northern Vietnam's Halong Bay between November and April.

The ship, which can carry 1,000 passengers, had a 12-million euro (HK$118.48 million) renovation in Italy designed to make her more appealing to Chinese tastes with sushi bars, restaurants and a larger casino.

"We are targeting mainly mainland tourists,'' said Massimo Brancaleoni, vice president of Costa Crociere, the ship's operator. "We estimate the cruises in Shanghai and Hong Kong will attract 55,000 visitors in the first year.''

The five-day voyage will cost about HK$5,000, including food and entertainment.

Impressive as the ship is, Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yiu- chung said the Costa Allegra will offer itineraries similar to Star Cruises.

"It won't bring overseas tourists to Hong Kong,'' Tung said, adding the completion of the long-awaited cruise terminal at the former Kai Tak airport site will lure cruise companies into running more regular and long-term schedules.

Paul Leung Yiu-lam, chairman of Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association, also said that as the Costa Allegra is not a Hong Kong- based cruise ship, it will not benefit SAR tourism revenue much.

"We have been waiting 10 years for the cruise terminal. If we had one, we would be able to attract more international cruise companies, such as Royal Caribbean, and get more high-yield tourists from overseas who would stay longer here,'' Leung said.

But Leung welcomed the decision to sail the Costa Allegra on voyages from the SAR, noting it was the first European cruise company to make such an investment.

Company president Giovanni Onorato said it was exciting to expand into the Asian market, given its substantial growth potential. Onorato quoted a report published in London forecasting the number of cruise passengers in Hong Kong to reach 720,000 by 2010.

[hkskyline]

府積極研究自資興建啟德郵輪碼頭
6月 2日 星期五 08:11 更新
《香港經濟日報》

獲悉，港府正積極研究自資興建啟德郵輪碼頭。港府內部評估，此方案既可加快郵輪碼頭盡快「上馬」，如期於２０１１年落成，亦可加強新郵輪碼頭的競爭力，調低郵輪泊位費，以配合區內郵輪業增長所帶來的龐大機遇，將香港打造成地區郵輪中心。

港府消息人士透露，當局亦諮詢過法律意見，即使港府自資興建啟德郵輪碼頭，與九倉海運碼頭簽訂的協議並無牴觸，因政府與九倉簽訂的協議內容中，訂明若在２０１０年前，海運碼頭未能容納巨型郵輪的需要時，港府可自行興建。

[randolphan]

I am so excited to hear from the brand new development plan!

[Magic Night]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Swire's Kai Tak Vision
http://www.swireproperties.com/kaitak



Open Space Amenities
O1 Kai Tak Park
O2 Continuous Southeast Kowloon
O3 Kai Tak Ribbon Park
O4 Kai Tak Point

Public Facilities
P1 Kai Tak Stadium
P2 Kowloon Bay Yacht Club
P3 Kowloon Bay Hospital
P4 Schools, including International Schools
P5 MTR/KCR Depot

Residential Neighbourhoods
R1 Kowloon City South
R2 Diamond Foothills
R3 Kai Tak Archipelago
R4 Kowloon Bay Waterfront
R5 Kai Tak Point

Please let this come true.

[hkskyline]

釋放維港景觀 盼息紛爭早拍板
啟德不建直升機大樓
15/06/2006
文： 楊瑞貞、余志良



為求啟德規劃能夠盡快上馬，據悉規劃署修訂規劃消除最後障礙，改善極具爭議、大殺維港景觀的跨境直升機場，將原擬樓高十層的機場大樓「夷為平地」，釋放更多維港景觀，但暫不落實興建連接跑道與觀塘的開合橋，以免因興建橋躉遭環保團體法律挑戰填海工程而拖慢進度，政府冀以民意壓力迫令開合橋成事。

據悉，啟德規劃最新修訂版本基本完成，政府於本月二十三日向立法會財務委員會申請添馬艦新政府總部五十二億元撥款，規劃署同日把啟德規劃提交城市規劃委員會商議，並於本月二十七日向立法會規劃地政及工程事務委員會詳細交代後，盡快進行公眾諮詢，爭取郵輪碼頭趕及在二○一一年竣工啟用。

貼近「體藝之都」構思
最新修訂版本貼近先前「體藝之都」的構思，設有都會公園、海濱長廊及露天茶座、酒店及購物街等。消息稱，規劃署在「魅力啟德」及「體藝之都」之間取中庸之道，把人口訂為八萬六千人，主要發展低密度住宅，並以開合式天幕運動場為地標，運動場夜間不關閉天幕，透過射燈及背後獅子山的襯托下，令所有駛入啟德碼頭的郵輪也可看到這顆新打造的「海上明珠」。

規劃最大的變動是把建議在跑道末端、樓高十層的跨境直升機場大樓「夷為平地」，機場位置移近郵輪碼頭，釋放更多維港景觀，希望消除最大的障礙。據悉，日後主要是珠三角單引擎直升機使用機場，為確保升降安全，該署堅持不把直升機場遷移到郵輪碼頭頂部。

以「零填海」出發的啟德規劃，根本是要避免環保人士的法律挑戰，但啟德跑道與觀塘被明渠出水口分隔，規劃署擬建開合橋連接觀塘與新城區，若在出水口中間建橋躉勢將惹起爭議。

未有納入民建聯建議
消息人士透露，啟德規劃已一波三折，不想因橋躉問題而「臨門一腳，入唔到波」，故新規劃不落實興建開合橋，但政府冀以民意壓力令環保人士考慮公眾利益而讓步，使政府在徇眾要求下落實興建開合橋。

對於民建聯建議闢設政府機構中心，消息稱，整個規劃並沒有納入這個建議，只會在公屋毗鄰設有綜合服務設施，類似各區的綜合服務大樓。

不過，本土文化再造主席林文輝強調，雖然政府刪除直升機場大樓這幢「大白象」，但新機場位置仍遮擋維港景觀，政府應該將機場搬往郵輪碼頭頂部。

[hkskyline]

Kai Tak heliport plan defies objections
Leslie Kwoh
15 June 2006
Hong Kong Standard

The government has announced it will push ahead with plans to build a cross- border heliport at Kai Tak, despite opposition from members of the public and operators of heli-services.

"We're reserving a small area at the tip of the site, by the proposed cruise terminal," Deputy Secretary for Economic Development Wilson Fung Wing- yip said Wednesday. "The results of the public consultation so far have not been encouraging, but we hope the [new heliport] will meet the long-term needs of the community."

Fung said one major advantage of the location was that the new heliport and cruise terminal would be able to share customs, immigration and quarantine facilities.

He said the government will also expand two existing facilities on Hong Kong Island. A new helipad will be added to the existing one at the Macau Ferry Terminal heliport near the Shun Tak Centre.

In addition, the proposed two-pad heliport near the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, originally reserved for government use, will also cater to commercial domestic flights when it opens in 2008.

Fung made the remarks at a Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday.

The idea was greeted with some skepticism by representatives of the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee. "The committee is not questioning the need for a heliport, but how and where," said committee member and the chamber's senior director of business policy, Chan Wai-kwan. "But for the Kai Tak site, I'm not sure there are any supporters. The main objection is that the tip of the runway is the prettiest part of the site, and should be reserved for the public."

Heliservices, which operates helicopter services argues the site is too far away.

Christopher Buchholz, executive director of the Hong Kong Aviation Group, which runs Heliservices, said the expansion of the elevated Macau terminal heliport would bring little added benefit considering that it operates single-engine helicopters that require ground-level landings.

He suggested expanding the proposed heliport in Wan Chai from two to four pads. But Fung rejected the idea citing public interest.

[Magic Night]

Heliport is a bad idea, they can just build one anywhere, and same for the cruise terminal just as long as there's a shore. I support the new park, it'll help neutralize the extreme urban concrete stress level.

[hkth]

RTHK news:
Blue print for Kai Tak 2006-06-21 HKT 18:40

Janice Wong reports

The Government has given an undertaking that no reclamation will be involved in the redevelopment of the site at the old Kai Tak airport. Under proposed plans, the site will have a number of facilities, including a cruise terminal, a multi-purpose stadium, a metropolitan park and several housing units.


Kai Tak blue print welcomed 2006-06-21 HKT 18:48



Artist impression of a walkway along the former Kai Tak airport runway


Convenor of Citizen Envisioning at Harbour, Albert Lai

The Government has given an undertaking that no reclamation will be involved in the redevelopment of the site at the old Kai Tak airport. Under proposed plans, the site will have a number of facilities, including a cruise terminal, a multi-purpose stadium, a metropolitan park and several housing units. The Convenor of the group - Citizen Envisioning at Harbour - Albert Lai, welcomed the proposed plans for Kai Tak.

[Siopao]

wow it looks nice

[Stiggen]

You're right

[hkth]

Gov't Press Release from the Legislative Council:
LCQ17:Cruise terminal development

[hkskyline]

住宅發展大過兩個太古城
啟德成維港新地標
22/06/2006



啟德空置八年後將會變天。政府推出啟德初步發展大綱圖，建議發展為匯集商業、住宅、綠茵、體育及旅遊特色的新焦點，成為維港四大地標之一。該區將發展成較兩個太古城更大的住宅區，提供二萬九千個新住宅單位，容納八萬六千五百人，並新增七十萬平方米辦公室建築樓面面積。撇除郵輪碼頭，單是商住及酒店單位土地，粗略估計至少將帶來一千二百億元經濟效益。

城規會明天討論啟德初步發展大綱圖，並展開為期兩個月的諮詢，並在下周二向立法會規劃地政及工程事務委員會介紹。若一切順利，最快要二○一○年後完成基建，再賣地發展。

提供八萬五就業機會
現時的會展、啟德的郵輪碼頭、添馬艦新政府總部及西九，將成為維港兩岸四大地標。消息人士表示，政府經過兩階段公眾諮詢後，明白市民希望啟德有更多空間和新穎規劃，故啟德初步發展大綱圖令該幅三百二十八公頃土地，成為體育、康樂、旅遊、商務及優質房屋中心，而工程更可創造八萬五千四百個就業機會。

啟德將有二萬九千個新住宅單位，較兩個太古城的住宅發展更大；新增七十萬平方米的辦公室建築樓面面積，較港島東的辦公室發展更大；新增六千八百個酒店房間，即十七間各有四百個房間的酒店，約達尖沙咀區內酒店數目的一半。但平均住宅地積比率介乎三至五倍，非住宅地積比率則介乎四至九點五倍；樓宇高度亦有限制，最高為一百七十五米。

以沙中線站為中心點
沙中線啟德站和鄰近的車站廣場將成為中心點，此處北部有辦公室區，廣場東面亦有一公頃的政府建築物，包括政府合署及社區設施等用途，但有多少部門遷入需深入研究。

單以商住發展規模計算，若以土瓜灣傲雲峰的六百呎單位售價二百五十萬元計算，扣除啟德的一萬一千個公屋單位後，一萬八千個住宅單位估計約值四百五十億元；現時中環甲級寫字樓每平方呎九千元，假設啟德屬同類甲級寫字樓，估計約值六百三十九億元；現時一間酒店房間成本為一百五十萬元，啟德的六千八百個酒店房間便值一百億元，估計可帶來一千二百億元經濟收益。

近兩年九龍區新單位供應逐步減少，中原測量師行聯席董事張競達指出，啟德是分階段發展，單位不會一下子推出，加上單位數量不算很多，若按年平穩推出，不會影響樓市。