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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1994
THESE OPTIONS ARE:
* TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO;
*
ΤΟ
*
INCORPORATE THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND CLINIC IN A NEW GOVERNMENT OR JOINT VENTURE DEVELOPMENT AT FUK TONG ROAD;
AND
TO MAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT RELOCATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND CLINIC.
MR TSANG SAID THE FIRST OPTION WOULD DENY A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE FACILITIES AT THE CLINIC, TO MEET IDENTIFIED SPACE SHORTFALLS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN THE EXISTING BUILDING, AND TO PROVIDE A MODERN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINAL AND COMMERCIAL COMPLEX IN THE KWUN TONG TOWN CENTRE FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS.
THE SECOND OPTION WOULD HAVE HAD THE SAME EFFECT, HE SAID.
"THE LIMITED REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE SPACE AT FUK TONG ROAD DOES NOT JUSTIFY A SELF-CONTAINED COMPOSITE GOVERNMENT BUILDING DEVELOPED THERE TO THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE SITE."
THE SECRETARY ALSO SAID THE ALTERNATIVE OF JOINT VENTURE HAD BEEN CONSIDERED.
"HOWEVER, THE INCLUSION OF GOVERNMENT FACILITIES, AND IN PARTICULAR THE NEED TO PLACE THE HEALTH CENTRE ON THE MORE VALUABLE, LOWER FLOORS OF THE BUILDING, WOULD MAKE A JOINT VENTURE COMMERCIALLY UNATTRACTIVE.
HE SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING BOTH THE FUK TONG ROAD AND TUNG YAN STREET SITES IN A JOINT-VENTURE HAD ALSO BEEN EXPLORED.
BUT THE REQUIREMENT TO COMPLETE THE FUK TONG ROAD DEVELOPMENT FIRST, BEFORE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE TUNG YAN STREET SITE COULD PHYSICALLY START, WOULD MAKE SUCH A PROJECT QUITE UNATTRACTIVE TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER BECAUSE OF THE LONG DELAY AT LEAST THREE YEARS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE TUNG YAN STREET SITE, HE ADDED.
—
MR TSANG SAID: "FOR THESE REASONS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PURSUED THE THIRD OPTION,
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FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD, AND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT NOW INTENDS:
* ΤΟ HOUSE THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN NEARBY ACCOMMODATION. HOWEVER, KEY GOVERNMENT FACILITIES, SUCH AS THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, WILL BE REPROVISIONED IN DUE COURSE TO THE TUNG YAN STREET REDEVELOPMENT;
*
TO
REPROVISION AND UPGRADE THE HEALTH CENTRE AT FUK TONG ROAD; AND
TO REPROVISION THE METHADONE CLINIC TO A CAR PARK SITE AT THE REAR OF THE EAST KOWLOON ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING. TO SHELTER THE CLINIC FROM
0
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