ENG-2018 — Page 238

13

Planning, Land and Infrastructure

The government is finalising Hong Kong 2030+, taking into account public views received during a public engagement exercise, the findings of technical assessments, recommendations of the Task Force on Land Supply, and the Lantau Tomorrow Vision.

East Lantau Metropolis

The basic concept of the East Lantau Metropolis is to create artificial islands via reclamation in the waters near Kau Yi Chau and Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter, and to better utilise underused land in Mui Wo, with the aim of creating a smart, liveable and low-carbon development cluster that encompasses a CBD3. The conceptual strategic transport infrastructure will enhance transport connectivity between the urban areas, Lantau and the western New Territories, and strengthen transport links between the traditional CBD and the Pearl River Delta east and west, making the East Lantau Metropolis a new platform with potential for development. The Lantau Tomorrow Vision, promulgated in the 2018 Policy Address, enhances the concept of the East Lantau Metropolis through multiple land supply and strategic transport initiatives, so as to meet Hong Kong's social, economic and housing needs in the medium to long term.

Land Use Strategy

Hong Kong 2030+ advocates a capacity-creating approach to generate both developmental and environmental capacity. Land with high ecological, landscape or historical value will be preserved, while degraded areas, the fringes of built-up areas and the two Strategic Growth Areas could be considered for development. Five broad measures are proposed: optimisation, such as upzoning and rezoning sites for development; swopping, such as freeing up land by relocating land uses not requiring prime locations and releasing land with low value in conservation and public enjoyment for other uses; innovation, such as exploring the idea of rock caverns; creation, such as reclaiming waters with low ecological and environmental value outside the harbour; and life-cycle planning, such as prudent planning of beneficial after-use of quarries, landfill sites and other temporary premises.

Land Supply

The government increases land supply for housing, infrastructure, community facilities and other needs in the short, medium and long term by:

• Increasing development intensity of developable land – mainly by raising the development intensity of individual private housing sites by up to 20 per cent and that of public housing sites, excluding those in the north of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, by 30 per cent, where technical feasibility permits and subject to the Town Planning Board's (TPB) approval;

• Changing land use and converting reserved sites mainly by conducting land use reviews of existing land, such as government sites and reserved sites with no development plans or for which the original purpose is no longer pursued, to identify potential sites suitable for housing and other development needs and to initiate change of their uses;

• Facilitating and expediting development and redevelopment on existing land – mainly by expediting railway property development and urban renewal, streamlining

188