TNAG-0564-FCO40-659-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 51

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For discussion

ARVED IN on 2nd September 1975

REGISTRY No.51 -2 SEP 1975

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XCC(75)52 35

Copy No

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN SITES BY MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION

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C.S. 166

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On 29th July 1975, after considering memorandum XCC(75)45, Honourable Members advised and the Governor ordered, inter alia, that in principle a grant of the Kowloon Bay Depot site should be made to the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, if established, subject to subsequent approval of the basic terms. Paragraphs 2-7 of this memorandum accordingly deal with the details of the grant of the Kowloon Bay Depot site; paragraphs 8-9 deal with public relations aspects of the grant of sites for comprehensive development, which was also the subject of the Governor's direction (see quotation in paragraph 8 below).

Kowloon Bay Depot

2

In paragraph 15 of memorandum XCC(75)45, Honourable Members were informed that the application by the Mass Transit Railway Provisional Authority to develop the Kowloon Bay Depot site with a large housing estate would require the consideration of the Land Deve- lopment Policy Committee before the approval of the Governor in Council could be sought to the basic terms of grant.

3

Unlike the other three sites, Pedder/Chater, Admiralty and Argyle, the grant of which for comprehensive development was approved on 29th July 1975, the Kowloon Bay Depot site (shown outlined with a thick black line on the annexed plan) is expressly designated as being for Mass Transit Railway use in the outline development plan. But use as a workshop and maintenance depot for its rolling stock would be con- fined to ground level, and it would be extremely wasteful of land if the opportunity were not taken for comprehensive development of some kind above the depot.

4

The latest proposals made by the Mass Transit Railway Pro- visional Authority envisage development of an estate of about 5,000 flats together with all supporting amenities. Such a development would have the advantage to the Corporation of bringing in substantial revenues and also of adding to the passenger traffic on the railway.

5

When the Land Development Policy Committee considered the Provisional Authority's proposals it noted the Director of Public Works' advice:

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