XN000022-1996-12-18 — Page 53

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Substantial land zoned for port back up and open storage uses

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Wing-chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that over 100 trucks and private cars recently took part in a slow- drive protest against the Government's failure to provide sufficient land for parking container trucks and storing containers and for use as scrap-yards. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

of the current total provision of land in the territory for the above purposes and whether any assessment has been made regarding the demand for land for such uses;

of the proportion of agricultural land in the New Territories being used as unauthorised car parks;

of the number of prosecutions over the past three years in respect of the unauthorised use of agricultural land in the New Territories as car parks; and

whether consideration will be given to extending to five years the term for short-term modification of land use in the New Territories?

Answer:

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

356 hectares of land have been zoned on statutory plans for port back up and open storage uses. This is substantially more than the 243 hectares of land zoned for such uses in 1990. In addition, 192 hectares of land zoned "Industrial" or "Industrial (Group D)" on statutory plans can be used for vehicle-related trade such as vehicle repair workshops and industrial developments with provision of floorspace for such uses. We are monitoring the demand for land for such uses as an on-going exercise.

We estimate that about 36 hectares of land in the rural New Territories is being used as unauthorised container trailer parks.