ENG-2013 — Page 240

12

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Creating new land is an important source of land in the long term. The government is determined to develop new land extensively and build up a land reserve so future demand can be met in a timely manner. The government is therefore taking forward a number of long-term land supply projects, including the North East New Territories New Development Areas (NDAs), Hung Shui Kiu NDA, development of Lantau Island (including the Tung Chung New Town Extension), review of deserted agricultural land in North District and Yuen Long, developing the New Territories North, reclamation on an appropriate scale outside Victoria Harbour, and rock cavern and underground space development. These long-term land supply projects will meet future population growth, provide land resources for economic development and improve people's living space and environment.

Reclamation on an appropriate scale outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern and underground space development are viable options for increasing land supply and building up a land reserve. From March to June, the public's views were sought on five proposed near-shore reclamation sites, three pilot rock cavern developments, as well as a strategic study of potential artificial islands. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and Drainage Services Department (DSD) are carrying out preparatory work on the relevant studies. In addition, the DSD has also substantially completed a feasibility study on the relocation of the Sha Tin sewage treatment works to caverns to free the original 28 hectare site for housing and other uses.

Separately, the CEDD is conducting a study on the long-term strategy for rock cavern development in Hong Kong, and has also commenced a territory-wide study to identify potential areas for more underground space development to create usable space and enhance connectivity in the urban areas.

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of private land for public use may be achieved through negotiation or resumption under the relevant ordinances which provide for compensation for the property's value and for the loss of business. If agreement on the amount of money to be paid cannot be reached, either party may go to the Lands Tribunal for adjudication. Some 40,375 square metres of private land, comprising about 6,849 square metres of building land and 33,526 square metres of agricultural land, were acquired in 2013. Compensation amounting to $2,604.2 million was paid.

The Lands Department was also involved in the resumption of land for urban renewal projects. In 2013, compensation totalling $354 million was paid to owners of 51 resumed properties affected by 11 urban renewal projects. Compensation amounting to $18 million was paid for a number of railway projects, including the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen- Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the West Island Line, and the South Island Line East.

Land Disposal

Government land is usually disposed of through public auction or tender. In 2013, 27 residential sites, three commercial sites, one logistics development site, one hospital site, two hotel sites,

192

Page 240Page 241

12