What are the urban development plans the Hong Kong government has formulated for Kowloon?
The West Kowloon Reclamation (WKR) provides a total of 340 hectares of land for strategic transport links, commercial development and housing development. It has a current population of about 47,500 which is expected to rise to about 129,000 by 2011. Infrastructure works have been substantially completed, and the final phase of reclamation to provide 13 hectares of land is near completion and remaining roadworks are in progress. The southern portion of the WKR (about 40 hectares) is to be developed into a world-class integrated arts, cultural and entertainment district. The results of an open competition on the conceptual planning for the area were announced in February 2003. The Hong Kong government has decided in principle to adopt the concept plan of the first prize winning concept as the basis for the master plan for the project. A high-level steering committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary for the Administration, has been set up to take forward the development.
The land uses of the Hung Hom Bay Reclamation (an area of 36 hectares) include the expansion of railway freight-yard development, private and public housing development, government, institutional and community facilities, schools as well as open space. It will house about 16,000 people by 2011. Insfrastructure works have been completed. Construction of residential/service apartments with social welfare facilities and public open space is in progress on the site of a Comprehensive Development Area.
The Comprehensive Feasibility Study for the Revised Scheme of South-East Kowloon Development (SEKD) was completed in September 2001. The further reduction in the total reclamation area to some 133 hectares and the adoption of environmentally friendly measures have been welcomed by the public. The scheme was translated into two Outline Zoning Plans that were gazetted in July 2001 and authorized in July 2002. The new development area of SEKD comprises the former Kai Tak airport apron and runway (280 hectares) and new reclamation areas (133 hectares). Environmentally friendly measures to be implemented include public transport by a railway and a smoke-free shuttle system; implementation of an automated refuse collection system and a district cooling scheme for air-conditioning and use of tunnel and depressed roads to promote pedestrianization. The development will have a full range of community facilities, open space and a stadium of international standard. While maintaining the tip of the former runway as a feature, a new tourism node with an international cruise terminal will be created at Kai Tak Point. Heritage items will be preserved. A Metropolitan Park covering an area of 24 hectares and a waterfront promenade of 5.4 kilometres will complement the tourism node as major attractions for tourists and residents. Detailed design started in January for some of the infrastructure and reclamation works, and construction is planned to start in phases from 2004.
Back
