ENG-1989 — Page 247

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

urban areas, such as Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai and the fringe of the Central District. Two redevelopment schemes with site areas ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 hectares were submitted to the Town Planning Board for approval. These schemes will entail the amalgamation of small building lots and under-utilised land for compre- hensive redevelopment to produce a better environment, rationalise land use, improve the community facilities and provide open space. The Town Planning Office prepared planning briefs for each of these schemes. A proposal for the complete renovation of Western Market was submitted by the LDC and agreed in principle by the Town Planning Board.

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Environmental improvement schemes were also carried out in the year on sites zoned for open space, government, institutional and community uses in the urban area. About $50 million was spent on the acquisition of private properties for the implementation of these schemes. Considerable efforts were made to assemble project sites already acquired in the Western, Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei districts.

Hong Kong Housing Society continued to implement urban renewal schemes. Properties at Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan and Yau Ma Tei were acquired and cleared in 1989 at a cost of about $45 million. Good progress was made on schemes at Lower Lascar Row/Lok Ku Road in Sheung Wan and the 'Six Streets' area of Yau Ma Tei. In the 1988–9 financial year, about 450 residential flats were produced in Housing Society schemes.

Acquisition of private streets by the government, to improve control and environmental conditions, is supported by district boards and the general public. There are about 300 'problem' streets in the territory and priority has been given to the acquisition of those where there are safety, traffic, or environmental hazards. Twenty-five streets were selected for acquisition in the year.

Private Building

A towering structure was added to the metropolitan skyline with completion of the angular 70-storey Bank of China building. Nearby, the new Standard Chartered Bank building now rises in a series of terraces above Central, completing a trio of unique banking edifices. On the Wan Chai waterfront, the new Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is a prime example of how commercial development, in this case hotels, offices and service apartments, can support the provision of a much-needed community facility.

With the continuing increase in the number of visitors to the territory, budget hotels have mushroomed in off-centre localities, including the industrial heartland.

At Kwun Tong, Ap Lei Chau and Tsing Yi, the problems caused by the close proximity of massive oil-storage depots to residential areas will soon be resolved with the redevelop- ment of some of these depot sites for more compatible uses.

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Given the pressure on Hong Kong's limited land area, greater use of underground space is being considered. A consultant has examined six cavern schemes covering different uses, including bulk storage facilities, warehousing, container-trade back-up facilities, commercial complex, oil and dangerous goods storage, refuse transfer and a sewage treatment plant. A government group is currently studying the schemes and the associated problems and will draw up a code of practice for the development and use of underground

caverns.

Construction of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on a 58.7-hectare site at Sai Kung is well underway. The new university will comprise three schools (Engineering, Science and Business Management) and a general Education Centre for the humanities and social sciences.

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