ENG-2019 — Page 236

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

sites are capable of providing over 310,000 flats in total, some 70 per cent of which will be public housing.

As at the year end, 132 potential housing sites had been zoned or rezoned for housing to provide about 141,400 public and 43,600 private housing flats. Statutory rezoning procedures are being carried out for another 15 sites estimated to provide about 16,300 public and 900 private housing flats upon successful rezoning.

In November, the department published a consultancy report which provided a comprehensive profile of brownfield sites in the New Territories. The report identifies 1,414 hectares of brownfield sites with active economic operations, and another 165 hectares without such operations. Over 800 hectares of these identified sites are under development or replanning through NDA and Potential Development Area projects, or are covered by other development projects initiated by the government or the private sector. Of the remaining 700 hectares, the department started a review of some 450 hectares that were closer to major infrastructure to assess the sites' suitability for public housing development.

During the Policy Address in October, a proposed Land Sharing Pilot Scheme was announced. This scheme aims to tap market forces in planning and construction, with a view to releasing as soon as possible the development potential of private lots with consolidated ownership but falling outside areas covered by the government's development studies, in order to speed up short to medium-term housing supply. The government will finalise details of the scheme and targets to start receiving applications in the first half of 2020.

The government also facilitates development and redevelopment on existing land. The Planning and Lands Branch is undertaking a streamlining exercise to consolidate and rationalise standards and definitions adopted by its departments, namely Buildings, Lands and Planning, in scrutinising development proposals, such that the approval process can be streamlined without prejudicing statutory procedures and technical requirements. In 2019, streamlined measures on requirements in building height, greenery and landscaping, building setback and building separation were promulgated. As the exercise continues, more streamlined measures will be promulgated as and when they are ready.

Major Land Supply Initiatives in Medium to Long Term

In the medium to long term, the government is taking forward land supply projects including the Kwu Tung North/Fanling North NDA, Tung Chung New Town Extension, Hung Shui Kiu/ Ha Tsuen NDA and Yuen Long South Development. These involve releasing large tracts of brownfield sites and deserted agricultural land as well as reclamation in environmentally less sensitive waters.

Lantau Tomorrow Vision

The Lantau Tomorrow Vision, announced in the 2018 Policy Address, aims at providing more land over the longer term for the continuing development of Hong Kong. The vision covers various projects, including artificial islands in the central waters, developments along North Lantau and the western coastal areas of Tuen Mun, including the River Trade Terminal and Lung

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