LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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of a rehabilitation fund and the introduction of legislation to facilitate private land owners to redevelop their properties.
Planning Studies
During the year, the Planning Department worked on several major development proposals, notably the West Kowloon and South East Kowloon reclamations. Studies were completed on future use of ex-military sites in Kowloon and the New Territories; Hong Kong Island West Development Statement; car park and traffic study at Stanley; study on comprehensive assessment of redevelopment potential in the metro areas; survey of housing aspiration of households; shopping habits and Metroplan Review Stage I study.
Studies including office decentralisation and the formulation of an Office Land Development Strategy, and the third review of the Port Development Strategy are still ongoing. New planning studies on the Planning and Development Study on NWNT; the Planning and Development Study on NENT; Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century and the feasibility study for additional cross- border links stages I & II were commenced. The Planning and Development Study on Hong Kong Island South and Lamma is scheduled to start in 1998.
Urban Development Areas
Construction works and feasibility studies on new urban development areas generally follow the broad pattern of land-use and guidelines in the Metroplan, and integrate with the replanning and redevelopment of adjoining old areas in a co-ordinated manner. The TDD is conducting feasibility studies of several major reclamation projects to provide solution spaces in the urban area.
Hong Kong Island
Central and Wan Chai Reclamation extends along the waterfront from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay. Central Reclamation Phase 1, involving some 20 hectares of land at the Central waterfront, was completed in March 1996. The project provides land for expansion of the Central Business District and construction of the Airport Railway's Hong Kong Station which is scheduled for completion by mid-1998.
Central Reclamation Phase 2 was completed in September 1996. The project provides 5.3 hectares of land in the Tamar Basin area for commercial and open space development.
The detailed design for Central Reclamation Phase 3, which connects Central Reclamation Phases 1 and 2 with Wan Chai Reclamation, was completed in mid- 1997. Implementation of this phase was under review.
The infrastructure works for Wan Chai Reclamation Phase 1 were completed in time for the opening of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Extension in June 1997. Wan Chai Reclamation Phase 2 is under planning. Together with the other phases of Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, it will accommodate strategic road links along the north shore (between Central and the eastern part) of Hong Kong Island.
On the western side, Belcher Bay Reclamation and the construction of Belcher Bay Link on it were completed in February 1997 to tie in with the opening of the Western Harbour Crossing.