HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MISS ADA WONG YING-KAY (in Cantonese):-I wish to ask follow-up questions on two respects. Firstly, I would like to know basing on what criteria, information or demand do the various Divisions in the Department decide on the type and scope of facilities to be constructed. I would like to know whether they have consulted this Council at this stage?
Secondly, of the 15 delayed projects, what percentage do they constitute the overall project programme? What exactly do you mean by geotechnical requirements? Why the geotechnical requirements cannot be anticipated at the initial planning stage?
MR. WONG KING-CHEUNG (in Cantonese):—First I'll answer the second part of the question. Geotechnical requirements arise when there are slope problems around the development area, so geotechnical survey needs to be done to see whether new facilities can be built there.
As to the first question, each piece of land allocated by the Planning Department will comply with certain criteria and standards. Take for example, a piece of land allocated to the Urban Council for building a market. Actually at the very beginning, internal circulars would be circulated to the various government departments concerned to decide on the use of the land. When U.S.D. receives the circular and knows that a market needs to be built on that particular site, the U.S.D. staff will then consult 3 branches, namely the Environmental Hygiene Branch, the Leisure Services Branch and the Cultural and Entertainment Branch before they decide on the kind of facilities to be provided in the U.C. complex. This is just an example. Work is done according to this procedure each time. Although we will consult the District Board on our 5-year plan, however, I believe the U.S.D. staff would tell the D.B. members that ‘Our decisions will be based on decisions of the Urban Council' when they present themselves in the U.C. or District Board meetings. In fact, the U.C. has the right to decide on any additional facilities to be provided in each venue or project. A market complex may include an indoor games hall, and a cultural centre may have a badminton court. It is up to the Council to decide basing on public needs in the district.
Miss Ada Wong Ying-kay (in Cantonese):—I don't think Mr. Wong has fully answered my question. About the 15 delayed projects, what percentage do they constitute the overall project programme?
MR. WONG KING-Cheung (in Cantonese):-We have approximately 22 projects this year and 5 or 6 were completed on time, 15 were delayed among which 5 were delayed for 2 to 4 months.
MR. CHAN CHI0I-HT (in Cantonese):-Would Mr. WONG please explain the third paragraph of the reply. At the very beginning of the reply, it was confirmed that land use would be optimized according to plot ratio and a simple answer 'yes' was given. But it was also mentioned later in the reply that no reference to plot ratio
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