LAND SUPPLY LAND SUPPLY ANDAND RECLAMATION RECLAMATION

““SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT”SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT”

填填海海CHAN Kong Yau // CHANG Enoch // LAI Cho Lee // LAM Hoi Yi // LAM Yuet Ting // SO Yuk Wa // YIM Natalie

INTRODUCTION

• Reclamation is the creation of new land from lakes, rivers or the sea

• Crucial to the socioeconomic development of Hong Kong

• less than 25% of Hong Kong’s land is developed

• 6% of Hong Kong’s land is reclaimed

HISTORY

206-9 BCE

Reclamation for agricultural purposes - beaches reclaimed for salt production

1841

British occupation of Hong Kong; private land owners reclaimed land without planning or governmental authorization, leading to the irregular coastline

1851

Bonham Reclamation Scheme - first official reclamation project adding land to Sheung Wan and the West island area

1860-1900

Intensive reclamation from Kennedy Town to Causeway Bay

1867-76

Non-government authorized reclamation around the peninsula and Yau Tsim Mong area by private land owners

文咸填海計劃

1868-73

Praya Reclamation Scheme - first large scale reclamation scheme adding a significant amount of land to Central

1890-1904

Second project of the scheme; 59 acres added to the waterfront of Central

海旁填海計劃

1916 Reclamation for Kai Tak Airport

1917Expansion of peninsula due to construction of East Rail Line

1921-31

Praya East Reclamation Scheme - expansion between Central and Wan Chai. Allowed for cross-harbor pipeline for fresh water supply from NT

海旁東填海計劃

Wan Chai, 1920

1951-60

More intensive reclamation after WWII:-Sha Tin (Shing Mun River) by private landowners (first major project in NT)-Causeway Bay (Victoria Park)-East island (Chai Wan, Siu Sai Wan)-Kwun Tong, Hung Hom-Expansion of Kai Tak Airport

Causeway Bay, 1950

1961-70Tuen Mun and Castle Peak Bay reclamation (New Town Development Scheme)

1971-80

Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Sha Tin, expansion of Kowloon peninsula, Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau, Cyberport - mainly for residential development

Sha Tin, late 1970sSha Tin, 1973 Sha Tin, today

1981-90

-Tai Po Industrial area-East of Hong Kong island (Taikoo, Sai Wan Ho, Shao Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen)

1989-98

Airport Core Programme (Port and Airport Development Strategy) - reclamation for the site of HKIA (Chek Lap Kok) and improving transportation infrastructure - North Lantau, Tung Chung, Central and West Kowloon

Chek Lap Kok before and after reclamation. West Kowloon, 1995

1991-2000

Central, Wan Chai, Kowloon peninsula, Kai Tak and expansion of outlaying islands

1997

Protection of Harbour Ordinance, Cap. 531 was passed, setting many constraints on harbor reclamation

2003-9 Penny’s Bay Reclamation

2003-Central Phase III/Wan Chai Phase II

Penny’s Bay, 2010 Central, today

GENERAL TREND and remarks.

• Around the coastlines on either side of the harbor

• New Territories with the new town development with continual development around the harbor

• Further urban development and the creation of urban infrastructure

• Implementation of the PHO to limit development

• General struggle with essential balance between socioeconomic development and sustainability and environmental sustainability

• Reclamation is a result of land supply challenges

WHY RECLAIM LAND?

• Land use challenges lead to the need of reclamation

• Financial prosperity - helps facilitate economic development of Hong Kong as it allows urban development

• Extra supply of land - 40% of the land are country parks and nature reserves

• More land would mean cheaper land

• Land is mountainous - hard to develop on

EFFECTS OF RECLAMATION

• Marine pollution - endangering marine life

• Increase in air pollution

• Further increases the urban heat island effect and disrupts airflow into these area

• Loss of cultural and historical heritage

• Beyond the narrowing of the harbour - i.e. destruction of the Queen’s Pier, which is historically significant

• Harbour is getting smaller - less vessels are allowed through which can hinder relevant industries

• Increase in job opportunities

• Is a solution for waste management - major issue in Hong Kong

• Increase space for visually appealing recreative facilities (i.e. greenery and promenade) to increase social and living standards

• Helps develop the tourism industry

TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE城市規劃條例

BACKGROUND• Town Planning Ordinance (TPO), Cap. 131, is a part of Hong

Kong law that has been amended throughout the years

• Designation of land use by regulating land use

• Meeting the specific development criteria for different land use whilst preserving natural environment

• Some sites only allow agricultural or conservation related activity

• Preserving the natural character of Hong Kong’s landscape and natural habitats

• Accommodating the scientific interest in these areas

COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE郊野公園條例

WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION ORDINANCE

保護野生動物條例

BACKGROUND

• Country Parks Ordinance (CPO), Cap. 208, is a part of Hong Kong law

• Enacted in 1976

• Aims to preserve natural environment - promotes environmental sustainability

• Platform for educational purposes

• Addresses recreational needs of the community - increases social sustainability

BACKGROUND• Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (WAPO), Cap.

170, is a part of Hong Kong law that has been amended throughout the years

• Reduce the loss of natural habitats due to urbanization

• Decrease in biodiversity

• Protect wild animals and their habitats

• Set up restricted areas to isolate from any disturbance

POLICY GAPS• Conserving these areas does not eliminate disturbance

• People are attracted to natural environments

• Visitors may not be educated about wildlife protection

• May disrupt the natural environment through feeding animals and littering

POLICY GAPS

• Lack of administration in restricted areas - policy is counterproductive

• Such as Tai Long Sai Wan

• Large area of flat land near Tai Long Sai Wan demolished in construction

• Dilemma - improved administration may disrupt natural environment; original purpose is not maintained

Recommendations

• Foster closer communication and planning between governmental departments for future development projects

• Prevent human interference (i.e. noise pollution or construction) in nearby areas that are restricted

• Strategize better conservation techniques to improve administration without disrupting the environment

• Increase in public education about environmental protection

PROTECTION OF HARBOUR ORDINANCE 保護海港條例

BACKGROUND

• Protection of Harbour Ordinance (PHO), Cap. 531 is a part of Hong Kong law

• Proposed in 1996 by The Society for Protection of Harbour (SPH)

• Officially approved in 1997 by the Legislative Council

• Aims to limit reclamation activity outside the Victoria harbour

• Protection and preservation of the heritage for the public

CONSTRAINTS

• Supervises and affects all reclamation projects proposed after 1997

• Not applicable to projects already approved or commenced (i.e. first two phases of Central-Wanchai reclamation unaffected as they were approved in the 1980s)

• Major hindrance to all development - causing delays and increasing costs to relevant projects

Central-wan chai Reclamation

• Feasibility report completed in 1989; construction commenced in 1993

• Former Land Development Policy Committee agreed to divide the project into five separate phases:

• Central I-III

• Wan Chai I-II

• So far, projects have provided improved transport infrastructure for the HKIA, Tamar naval base and HKCEC

• Improve transportation infrastructure to alleviate congestion during busy hours

• Central-Wan Chai Bypass, connecting to Eastern Corridor Link

• Aims to provide extra land for the MTR Railway

• Shatin-Central Link

• North Island Line

• Promenade to be constructed above - increase social standards and creates a more pleasant environment

• Targeted completion date: 2017

• The Society for Protection of Harbour raised a judicial review to oppose Wan Chai II

• Final Appeal announced that the SPH won and the government had to stop the project

• Project is now currently under review

KAITAK RECLAMATION

• Hong Kong’s official airport until 1998

• Covers 328 hectares

• Has since been temporarily used for fill banks, bus depots, car parks, car sales exhibitions and recreational grounds

• Many plans and proposals for what to do with Kai Tak since 1998 (Outline Zoning Plan)

• Repeatedly refused and reconsidered due to:

• Town Planning Ordinance

• Protection of Harbour Ordinance

• Pending the completion of the study of South East Kowloon Development

• Objections from the public and other parties during exhibition periods of these plans

• Though initially approved Chief Executive in Council in 2002, plans were refused after public inspection

• 1998 - Outline Zoning Plan proposed reclamation of 299 hectares

• 2001 - Proposed reclamation reduced to 133 hectares

• 2004 - PHO restricted ANY further reclamation

• Development strategies used zero reclamation as a starting point

• Kai Tak Planning Review in 2004 due to the change of criteria by the PHO; finalized scheme after extensive planning and public participation - approved in 2007

• The plan for the project considered...

• Final plan will consist of a cruise terminal, parks, housing, a hospital, a stadium, district cooling systems and space for MTR development

Urban design, landscape and cultural heritageTraffic and transport reviewInfrastructure and utilitiesMarine usesInfrastructural capacity and development thresholdDevelopment requirements

POLICY GAPS.• PHO aims to promote social and environmental

sustainability by restricting reclamation in the harbour but is hindering the progression of many projects

• Causes many delays → increase of costs

• Governmental departments are still proposing projects with reclamation as a way to address land supply issues

• Different departments within the government are not in alignment of each other, causing inconsistencies, conflict and waste of time

Recommendations.

• Must compromise between the government’s notions to develop Hong Kong and the environmentalists/people who wish to preserve cultural heritage

• Redevelop older areas in Kowloon (i.e. former government buildings, Kai Tak, etc.)

• Strategically develop land reserves - there are about 386 hectares of land in NT and about 360 in other areas of Hong Kong

• Town Planning Board should have comprehensive consultation with all relevant parties before commencing such projects

• Comprehensive planning has been shown to be effective especially in ensuring sustainability (i.e. Kai Tak) by addressing various social, economic and environmental challenges Hong Kong is put in

• WWF states that damage done by reclamation is irreversible - should be only considered as a last resort

• The Environmental Protection Department can improve the criteria used in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report which should be same as the international standard.

• Standardized development strategy and criteria (for example, zero-reclamation as a starting point?) written with comprehensive consultation with different departments and the public for future projects can save time in planning, consultation and reduce conflicts.

FUTURE OF LAND SUPPLY ISSUES

• CE announced in latest Policy Address (2011-12) to innovate to expend land resources and to build up a land reserve

• $300 million allocated for conducting studies relevant to reclamation and rock cavern development

• Civil Engineering and Development Department has conducted an extensive feasibility report on land supply options as part of the Enhancing Land Supply Strategy

• Prepared for public engagement

• Flexibility in land supply strategies

Reclamation Outside of Victoria Harbour

• Considering reclamation outside of the harbour

• ‘Public digest’ - parts of the study based on public feedback/involvements

• Key challenge: Mitigation of the impact on marine ecosystem

• Challenges include ecosystems, and people not willing to live their daily lives in caverns

• Must consider the three aspects of sustainability, feasibility and impacts on the community

• 64% of Hong Kong is well-suited for rock cavern development

• Example: HKU’s Centennial Campus caused the relocation of the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs

CAVERNS

• For facilities such as parking, storage, water/sewage treatment, etc. such that there is more space on land

thank you.