- 30.
Land Supply
In drawing up our Land Disposal Programmes, we follow the basic aim to provide adequate land to meet the economic and social needs of Hong Kong, taking into consideration not only current market conditions but also forecast demand in the medium to long term. To this end, we conduct an annual assessment of land requirements and supply for the next 10 years. The assessment is contained in a report which is available to the public and to LegCo Members. The next Report will be completed in July this year. Our current system of assessing overall land supply requirements works well and we can see no reason to change it. However, post- 1997, the SARG will make its own decisions.
Statistics suggest that office rentals have softened since the last quarter of 1994. This is attributed to increased supply and a slight fall in demand. The Government will continue to monitor the market situation and aim to supply sufficient land to meet demand. On hotels, the Government fully appreciates the importance of the tourism industry. The recommendations of the consultants who have studied its needs are currently being considered and decisions will be made as soon as possible. We need to ensure the future supply of hotel rooms is adequate while also ensuring that we do not introduce unnecessary rigidities in the land market.
Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme (SSDS)
Some Members expressed views on the cost effectiveness of and the speed with which we are developing and implementing our sewage strategy. May I take this opportunity to once again remind everyone that Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme is the result of a 2-year intensive study, completed in 1989, in which over 1,000 possible disposal arrangements were considered. To enable early relief to our serious harbour pollution problems, the Government has embarked upon a High Priority Programme of sewage services, which comprises Stage I of the SSDS and several related district Sewage Master Plans (SMPs). Work started in April 1993 and, upon completion in 1997, the HPP will abate 70% of the pollution in the central harbour.
We are now reviewing options for Stage II of the SSDS, the original concept of which involved an oceanic outfall and the discharge of treated effluent to the south of Hong Kong. It is our intention that the public should be consulted on the outcome of the review before a final decision is made. Thereafter, a comprehensive EIA of the selected option will be conducted in line with the standard requirements. The SSDS will continue to be discussed in the JLG expert group and the associated technical group to ensure that it is fully understood by our Chinese colleagues and that the selected solution for Stage II is an acceptable one.