LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
the Central terminus of the Airport Railway in addition to land for commercial and open space uses.
The long-term effects of the various proposed reclamations on the hydraulic and water quality in the harbour will continue to be assessed by model studies.
Urban Renewal
Over the years, government and private developers have been involved in the re- development of the older urban districts where buildings have become obsolete and the provision of various infrastructural facilities is minimal. In the course of preparing the Metroplan, the older urban districts are seen as offering redevelopment opportunities for comprehensive urban renewal in order to create a more acceptable urban environment.
The Land Development Corporation (LDC) was established in January 1988 to encourage and speed up urban renewal. The Co-ordinating Urban Renewal Section of the Planning Department is the main contact point between the LDC and government, and is responsible for processing redevelopment proposals, making planning assessment for and seeking views of government departments on proposed LDC projects for the consideration of the Town Planning Board, preparing planning briefs for urban renewal schemes and identifying suitable areas for urban renewal.
Since the inception of the LDC, three development schemes in Hong Kong (Jubilee Street, Wing Lok Street, Queen Street) and two schemes in Kowloon (Argyle Street/ Shanghai Street, Shamchun Street) were approved by the Town Planning Board and subsequently gazetted under the Town Planning Ordinance.
Both the Jubilee Street and Wing Lok Street Schemes in Central District are to be redeveloped comprehensively with provisions for high quality office/commercial buildings, open space at prominent locations and associated government/institution/community facilities. The Jubilee Street Scheme was the first LDC development scheme approved by the Executive Council (in May 1991), to be followed by the Wing Lok Street Scheme. The Queen Street Scheme, which is located in Sheung Wan District and will make provisions of a purpose-designed social welfare building together with commercial and residential development, was gazetted in March 1991.
The redevelopment schemes in Argyle Street/Shanghai Street and Shamchun Street in Kowloon were approved by the Town Planning Board and gazetted in March and May 1991 respectively. The Argyle Street/Shanghai Street Scheme aims to redevelop the area into a commercial centre with a mixture of office, hotel, retail uses, and a landscaped local open space at the hub of Mong Kok. The Shamchun Street Scheme offers opportunities to redevelop the existing Mong Kok Market in situ together with a new area community centre, and to resettle the bird stall operators from the existing Hong Lok Street as they will be affected by the Argyle Street/Shanghai Street redevelopment scheme.
A number of smaller residential projects to accommodate occupants displaced by the redevelopment schemes are being undertaken by the LDC. These projects are located at Third Street and Li Chit Street on Hong Kong Island, and Soy Street in Kowloon. Another important project is the renovation of the Western Market, a red-brick structure built in 1906 in Edwardian style, and converting it into a Covent Garden type of bazaar. Opened in November this year, the renovated building provides new operation accom- modation for the traditional Chinese trades and crafts affected by the LDC schemes in Sheung Wan District.
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