TNAG-1857-FCO40-2632-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 82

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

12 July 1989

香港立法局

一九八九年七月十二日

30

TEMPORARY

CONTROL OF DENSITY

OF

BUILDING

DEVELOPMENT (KOWLOON) BILL 1989

Resumption of debate on Second Reading which was moved on 31 May

1989

Question on Second Reading proposed.

MR. CHENG HON-KWAN: Sir, in view of the potential controversy over this new piece of legislation, an ad hoc group was set up to scrutinize the Temporary Control of Density of Building Development (Kowloon) Bill 1989.

Under the Hong Kong Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance, airport height restrictions (AHR) are imposed on buildings to ensure aircraft safety. With the introduction of new obstacle clearance criteria by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 1982, the Civil Aviation Department has initiated a review of AHR in 1983. Phase I of the review was implemented in 1986. The Phase II review has now been completed.

Implementation of the recommendations of the Phase II review will result in the relaxation of existing AHR in many areas of Kowloon which could lead to a significant increase in existing plot ratio. It will also involve the imposition of AHR for the first time in parts of Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island and the tightening up of existing AHR in some areas of Kowloon. The development of those areas with relaxed AHR to their maximum permitted density under the new AHR will put severe strain on existing and planned infrastructure and community facilities. On the other hand, it will be unlikely that land is available for the construction of new roads and other facilities to cater for the additional development density that the relaxed AHR will permit.

The Bill seeks to impose temporary control on the density of building development by ensuring that after the implementation of the new AHR recommended by the Phase II review, new buildings are not developed to a plot ratio greater than that that can be achieved under the present AHR. The present intention is that the Bill will expire on 31 December 1990, unless extended by a resolution of the Legislative Council.

Hong Kong is one of the most populous and crowded cities in the world. The problem of overcrowding and inadequate facilities is most serious in the old urban areas. Much needs to be done in the field of town planning to thin out population density in the older built-up areas to enable better provision of

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