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would be made. I cannot understand clearly what Mr. Wong means. Would you please elaborate.
Secondly, it is about the mechanism for determining plot ratio. Do we have a mechanism to determine plot ratio for construction projects so that we can make the best use of this ratio to provide necessary facilities to the public?
Mr. Wong King-Cheung (in Cantonese):—Plot ratio is a ratio by which the Government imposes restrictions on private developers in respect of back-up land. This restriction does not apply to ‘G/IC" sites. If it is found that the land is not fully utilized, the Lands Department and the Government Property Agency will ask the Department to provide more facilities on that particular piece of land. We must comply with the request according to government regulations.
We can provide any kind of facility on the land, there is no restriction on this. However, we cannot increase the height of the building. Members may remember we have been affected by various problems with our projects in recent days. For example, we were not allowed to build an additional storey to the Stanley Market Complex, so that we had to go back to the beginning and make a fresh plan for the project. Then there was the Central Library, which was not allowed to exceed a certain height. These are the general facts. The Capital Works Select Committee had spent quite a bit of time to discuss about plot ratio and optimization of land use in its July meeting, and will discuss this even further in the coming meeting.
Mr. Ambrose Cheung Wing-sum (in Cantonese):—I have a follow-up question on paragraph 4 of the reply. It was mentioned that the actual price levels at the time of funding approval and at the time of tender were different. I would like to ask, is there any information on the average time required from funding approval to tendering? How many months does it take? Have there been slippages in that area?
The second follow-up question is, Paragraph 5 of the reply mentioned that 15 out of our 20 projects, which was a majority, have been delayed. Some of the delays are due to inclement weather which is out of our control. However, has the Committee considered any means or mechanism to reduce delays in construction?
Mr. Wong King-Cheung (in Cantonese):—The first question is about the increase in A.P.E.s. I stress that the increase in prices is not due to delay of the construction schedules. It is because many of the projects were decided a long time ago, however, there might be a lapse of time between funding and tendering. So we would adjust the tender prices upward automatically for projects which would start construction in the next six months. I believe that Members have also received such information papers before.
As to the second question, I also feel that apart from slippages due to inclement weathers and geotechnical problems, the capital projects which will commence construction in the near future are facing a big problem. I understand and share
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