TNAG-0564-FCO40-659-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 72

F

C.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL #

XCC(75)45

Kowloon Bay Depot

- 8 -

14

A plan of the area required for the depot is at Annex F. This site of 165, 800 square metres is on recently formed reclamation, and is zoned for the Mass Transit Railway Depot. The surrounding land is zoned for industrial uses. The Mass Transit Railway Provi- sional Authority has sought permission to develop commercial resi- dential buildings over the Railway Depot, which would accommodate some 18, 000 persons.

15

Such a development would involve a modification of present planning intentions for the area, and the Director of Public Works is now considering the Provisional Authority's proposals. He will, in due course, advise the Land Development Policy Committee of his views as to the appropriate form of development of this site. For these reasons it is not possible to seek approval of the basic terms of grant of this site at this stage. Accordingly, approval in principle only is sought at this time.

Publicity

16

Because of its history and prominence, and in view of the previous publicity given by the Press to the proposal (rejected by the Executive Council in January 1974) that the General Post Office site be exchanged for Alexandra House to enable the latter site to be used for open space, there will be considerable public interest in the dis- posal of the residual development rights of this site. The grant of the other three sites will also be of some public interest. Publicity will, therefore, have to be concentrated on the case for granting these sites to the Corporation. At the same time, emphasis should be laid on to the liability of the Corporation to premia assessed at full market value.

16

Honourable Members will be asked to advise:

(a) whether the statement of principles for grants

of land, and interests in land, to the future Mass Transit Railway Corporation set out in Annex B should be adopted;

(b) whether grants should be made to the future Mass

Transit Railway Corporation, if established, of the Pedder/Chater, Admiralty and Argyle sites for comprehensive development on the basic terms proposed in paragraphs 11, 12 and 13 respectively; and

CONFIDENTIAL

機密