Events in Brief

January

Planning and Engineering Review of Potential Housing Sites in Tuen Mun East Area – Feasibility Study

Stage 2 public consultation of the Study on the revised development scenario was conducted during November 2008 to January 2009. In addition to consultation with Tuen Mun District Council and Town Planning Board, a public forum was conducted. The consulted stakeholders generally supported the land-use proposals and the proposed low to medium development intensity for the housing sites in Tuen Mun East. Views received had been duly considered in the finalisation of the recommendations. The Study will be completed in early 2010.

Public Forum

February

Amendments to Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) Chapters 3 and 9

The revision to the planning standards and guidelines for social welfare facilities under Chapter 3 of HKPSG was promulgated in February 2009.  The revised standards were to reflect the changes in service provisions for children and youth and the elders provided by the Social Welfare Department.  In parallel, the terms ‘nurseries’ and ‘home for the aged’ in Chapter 9 were also updated.

Elderly centre	Integrated children and youth centre

March

The Hong Kong Island East Harbour-front Study- Stage 1 Public Engagement

The Stage 1 Public Engagement Programme of the Study was held in March and April 2009 to solicit initial views from key stakeholders on major issues and key areas of concern on enhancement of the Hong Kong Island East harbour-front areas as well as their visions, aspirations and suggestions on harbour-front enhancement. Major activities included a brainstorming workshop, a questionnaire survey, a drawing campaign and briefings to statutory and advisory bodies. The views collected in the Stage 1 Public Engagement served as inputs for the consultants of the Study to prepare enhancement proposals.

Brainstorming workshop

April

Thematic Household Survey on Hong Kong Residents’ Experience of and Aspiration for Taking Up Residence in the Mainland of China

The survey report was published in April. The survey, commissioned by the Census and Statistics Department on behalf of the Planning Department, aimed to collect updated information on the trend and characteristics of Hong Kong residents taking up residence and owning/renting residential properties in the Mainland. Similar surveys were conducted in 2001, 2003 and 2005. The findings of the survey provide reference for strategic planning in Hong Kong, in particular those policies and plans with a cross-boundary dimension.

Residential developments in the Mainland

May

Amendments to HKPSG Chapter 6

The revision to the planning standards and guidelines on retail facilities under Chapter 6 of HKPSG was promulgated in May 2009.  The revision was to update the changing shopping habits of Hong Kong people and the current retail hierarchy.

Shopping centre

Amendments to HKPSG Chapter 8

The revision to the car parking standards in subsidised housing developments under Chapter 8 of HKPSG was promulgated in May 2009. The amendment was to update the parking standards for subsidised housing developments based on finding of the Study on Parking for Public Housing Developments conducted by the Housing Authority.

Car-parks at public housing estate

June

Planning and Engineering Study on Development of Lok Ma Chau Loop - Investigation

Lok Ma Chau Loop is one of the ten major infrastructure projects announced by the Chief Executive in his 2007 Policy Address. Hong Kong and Shenzhen Governments agreed to conduct a joint study for the Lok Ma Chau Loop in 2008. The Study comprises three areas, namely Areas A, B and C. Areas A and B are covered in the ‘Planning and Engineering Study on Development of Lok Ma Chau Loop – Investigation’ which was commissioned by Planning Department and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) in June 2009 and is anticipated to be completed in end 2011. Area C is conducted by the Shenzhen authorities with similar time frame. Both governments considered that higher education could be the leading land use for Area A, complemented with hi-tech research and development, as well as cultural and creative industries, which will benefit the long-term economic development of the two cities. Stage 1 public engagement activities are scheduled for the first half of 2010.

Lok Ma Chau Loop

July

Area Improvement Plan for the Shopping Areas of Mong Kok

The Study was completed and recommended 22 improvement projects to enhance the overall attractiveness of the shopping areas and pedestrian experience in Mong Kok. An Executive Summary outlining the Study’s findings and recommendations was released. The Panel of Development of the Legislative Council was also briefed on the Study’s recommendations. Improvement projects will be followed up by the concerned government departments and the Urban Renewal Authority.

Area Improvement Plan for the Shopping Areas of Mong Kok

Nullah Road Greening Project

Study on the Enhancement of Lau Fau Shan Rural Township and Surrounding Areas – Stage 1 Community Engagement

The Stage 1 Community Engagement for the Study took place from July to August 2009 with an aim to understand the visions and aspirations of the community for the future development of Lau Fau Shan. Taking into account the views/comments collected from the public and the stakeholders, the Consultants would prepare the planning framework and conceptual improvement schemes for discussion in the next stage of Community Engagement scheduled to be held in the first half of 2010.

Community engagement forum

August

Survey of Hong Kong People Living in Shenzhen

The survey was jointly commissioned by the Planning Department and the Statistics Bureau of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. In September 2008, a total of 4 200 households with Hong Kong people (i.e. 6 900 Hong Kong people) were successfully interviewed in Shenzhen. Data collected include their socio-economic characteristics, reasons for taking up residence in Shenzhen, aspiration for returning to Hong Kong in the future and their socio-economic ties with Hong Kong.

Survey of Hong Kong People Living in Shenzhen

September

Seminar on Regional Planning in the Greater Pearl River Delta Region

The ‘Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) (2008-2020)’, released by the National Development and Reform Commission in January 2009, advocated closer co-operation of the PRD region with Hong Kong and Macao in the realms of urban planning and cross-boundary transport development, and promoted the formulation of regional co-operation plans through consultation and agreement. On this basis, the Planning Department organised the Seminar in Hong Kong in September 2009, with a focus on regional planning and cross-boundary transport infrastructures. The Seminar had provided a discussion platform for more than 200 government officials, experts and academics from Hong Kong, Guangdong, Macao and the nine PRD cities (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing), and to share the initial findings of the relevant studies.

Seminar

Guests and speakers of the seminar

Civil Services Outstanding Service Award Scheme

Planning Department among other departments received Merit Award (of the Partnership Award under the category of ‘Science in the Pubic Service’) in the 2009 Civil Services Outstanding Service Award Scheme.

Award ceremony

October

Planning Study on the Coordinated Development of the Greater Pearl River Delta Townships – Promulgation of the study outcome

A seminar was held in Macao jointly by Hong Kong, Macao and the Guangdong Province to promulgate the outcome of the Study. Over 300 participants, including representatives of the relevant government departments, professional and academic institutions and other interested bodies from Hong Kong, Macao and the Guangdong Province, attended the seminar.

Seminar

Study on the Enhancement of the Sha Tau Kok Rural Township and Surrounding Areas - Stage 1 Community Engagement

The Stage 1 Community Engagement of the Study was conducted between October and December 2009 to collect the views from the public on the vision and aspiration for the enhancement of the Sha Tau Kok rural township and its surrounding areas.  Major activities included community engagement forum, exhibition and briefings.  Views received were considered in formulating the draft Integrated Area Improvement Plan.  The Study is scheduled for completion in late 2010.

Meeting with Sha Tau Kok Rural Committee

Exhibition

Land Use Planning for the Closed Area – Stage 2 Community Engagement

Stage 2 Community Engagement on the Draft Development Plan was scheduled between October and December 2009. Two public forums were held and a series of briefings had been conducted with various stakeholders, including established boards, committees, Shenzhen Municipal Government, professional bodies, green groups and community organisations. The views collected in the Stage 2 Community Engagement would be considered in the Study to further improve the proposals of the Draft Development Plan. It would provide guidance for the future development in the area and a basis for the timely preparation of statutory town plans before the new boundary of the Closed Area comes into effect. It is anticipated that the Study will be completed in 2010.

Public forum

November

The North East New Territories New Development Areas Planning and Engineering Study (NENT NDAs Study) - Stage 2 Public Engagement

The Planning Department and CEDD jointly commissioned the NENT NDAs Study in June 2008 with a view to formulating a feasible scheme for the Kwu Tung North, Fanling North and Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling NDAs to meet long-term housing, social, economic and environmental needs. The Stage 2 Public Engagement Exercise was launched in November 2009 till early 2010 to engage the public on the preliminary Outline Development Plan to the NDAs. About 16 briefings/presentations were given to established boards and committees, professional bodies and community organizations, and a community workshop was held in mid-December. The Study is expected to be completed in 2011.

Community workshop

December

Projections of Population Distribution for 2009-2018

The Working Group on Population Distribution Projections completed the compilation of the projections of population distribution for 2009-2018. The detailed results are published in the report entitled ‘Projections of Population Distribution, 2009-2018’ which was released to the public in December 2009. The Report can be downloaded from the Planning Department web site

‘Projections of Population Distribution, 2009-2018’