ENG-1991 — Page 236

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Sub-regional Development Strategies

The Sub-regional Development Strategies aim to translate the long-term broad-brush territorial goals into more specific planning objectives for the five sub-regions of Hong Kong (namely, Metroplan area, North East New Territories, South East New Territories, North West New Territories and South West New Territories). They serve as a bridge linking the Territorial Development Strategy and district plans. Since the decision on the replacement airport in Chek Lap Kok and port expansion in October 1989, the review of the Non-metropolitan Development Strategies (formerly known as Sub-regional Planning Statements) has commenced. Sectoral studies for the review of the North West New Territories (NWNT) Development Strategy have been carried out to examine the key issues of the sub-region. From the findings of these studies, and taking account of the long-term land use needs likely to be generated from the Port and Airport Development Strategy and the Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy, a number of initial development options have been generated. These options have been evaluated against a set of agreed criteria and the next step is to produce a preferred development option. Upon the completion of the review, which is scheduled for early 1992, the development strategy will provide a land use/transport/environment framework, with a target year of 2011, to provide inputs for the review of the Territorial Development Strategy and to guide future development in the NWNT.

With the replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok and the provision of new port facilities in North East Lantau, the South West New Territories (SWNT) will be subject to tremendous development pressures. A major issue in the SWNT is the achievement of a balance between increasing demands for urban development, on the one hand, and the con- servation of the intrinsic natural beauty of the sub-region, on the other. A review of the SWNT Development Strategy is therefore being undertaken to produce an acceptable land use/transport/environment framework with a target year of 2011 for the sub-region. The study is scheduled for completion in mid-1992.

Metroplan

The Metroplan Study serves as a planning framework for comprehensive restructuring of the old urban areas around Victoria Harbour over the long-term to create a better urban environment. Redevelopment sites, reclamation and the terracing of hill slopes are identified as 'solution spaces' for the formulation of alternative Metroplan options.

After more than three years of endeavour, the Metroplan Study has been completed. Subsequent to endorsement by the Executive Council, the Metroplan Selected Strategy was released to the public in November 1991. The strategy is designed to provide a framework within which both public and private sector agencies can formulate detailed plans and development programmes with the common aim of making the city a better place in which to live and work. To that end, it sets out a broad pattern of land use and proposes various guidelines with regard to the type, form and density of different kinds of development. The overall pattern of land use has been formulated within a network of principal highways and railways to provide safe and convenient movement of passengers and goods. The restructuring of the city takes particular account of new development opportunities that will be made available through the eventual relocation of the airport from Kai Tak.

Proposals have also been made to indicate the general sequence of major engineering works and building development, recognising that the timing of such works is ultimately

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