TNAG-1857-FCO40-2632-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 83

12 July 1989

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一九八九年七月十二日

31

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

香港立法局

infrastructure and community facilities, and thereby improved quality of life. The formulation of a comprehensive planning strategy for the metropolitan area is currently undertaken by the Metroplan study.

Against such background, the Government is highly concerned that the substantial increase in plot ratio arising from the relaxed AHR would give developers a significant incentive to develop or redevelop to the maximum permitted density, thus causing unacceptable strain on the already overloaded infrastructure in Kowloon and New Kowloon. Although it is still difficult to assess the impact of the recent events in China on the property market, Members share the Administration's view that a freeze on the existing development density is necessary until a comprehensive planning strategy for the metropolitan area is formulated by the Metroplan.

Since the main purpose of the Bill is to impose some form of interim development control until the conclusions and implementational details of the Metroplan study are known by the end of 1990, Members have questioned whether the implementation of the new AHR can be deferred until such date. According to the Administration, it will be unacceptable to defer the imposition of new height restrictions on parts of Hong Kong and Lantau Island. Besides, according to legal advice, the Governor in Council's power to impose AHR should be circumscribed to civil aviation safety ground and should not be exercised for town planning control. Thus, it is reckoned that a new manner of statutory control over building density in areas where the AHR are to be relaxed needs to be instituted, no matter how temporary its nature.

Members have questioned the possible effects of the relaxed AHR on the flight path of the replacement airport. The Administration has assured Members that although the review of AHR is done as a separate exercise from the Port and Airport Development Study, judging from the locations of the shortlisted replacement airports, the relaxation of AHR resulting from the review will not cause obstacle problems to the new airport.

The group has also identified several technical points in relation to the drafting of the Bill on which the Administration has agreed that amendments should be made. I shall be elaborating on the reasons behind these amendments during the Committee stage.

Sir, with these remarks, I support the Bill.