Vacant School Premises (VSP) Sites Reviewed under the Central Clearing House Mechanism - Frequently Asked Questions

Paying heed to the principle of optimising the utilisation of land resources, the Government strives to make the gainful use of VSP sites.  In an efficient and coordinated manner, the Government has established the Central Clearing House Mechanism to periodically review the VSP sites that are no longer required for school uses by the Education Bureau (EDB) and to recommend suitable long-term uses for these sites for follow-up actions by the bureaux / departments concerned.

In accordance with the Central Clearing House Mechanism, when the EDB confirms that a VSP site is no longer required for school uses, EDB will inform the Planning Department (PlanD) and other relevant departments (such as the Lands Department (LandsD) and the Housing Department (HD)).  PlanD will conduct review under the Central Clearing House Mechanism, and recommend suitable long-term uses (e.g. Government, Institution or Community (G/IC), residential or other uses) for the VSP site concerned.  Upon confirmation on the long-term use of the VSP site concerned, PlanD will inform the departments concerned (e.g. LandsD, HD, etc.) of the recommendations for taking follow-up actions as appropriate.

Management and utilisation of VSP sites do not fall within the purview of PlanD under the Central Clearing House Mechanism.  At present, except for those VSP sites located on private land that are in the possession of private land owners, or those VSP sites allocated for long-term or short-term uses which are under the management of the concerned departments / licensees / tenants, the remaining VSP sites located on government land are mainly managed by LandsD and HD.

In reviewing the long-term uses of VSP sites, PlanD will take into account various planning factors, including the planning intention of these sites and the land uses and environment in the vicinity, etc.  PlanD will also consult relevant bureaux and departments in accordance with the established practice.  Whether a VSP site is suitable for higher density development, such as residential development, depends on its size, location, compatibility with the surrounding land uses, adequacy of transport and infrastructural facilities, development or technical constraints and development needs of respective districts, etc.

For those VSP sites located on government land with recommended long-term use upon review under the Central Clearing House Mechanism, relevant bureaux or departments will coordinate and implement the concerned development.  For instance, the Hong Kong Housing Authority will undertake development of those VSP sites recommended for public housing development, after completion of the feasibility studies, planning and other statutory procedures.  Pending implementation of the recommended long-term use, the VSP sites could be used for short-term community or other non-profit making uses.

For VSP sites that are reviewed under the Central Clearing House Mechanism, located on government land and available for application, if any organization wishes to use these sites for long-term or short-term community or other non-profit making uses, it can make enquiries on the application procedures with the managing party of the sites concerned.  The organization/institution concerned should obtain support from the relevant bureau(x) before making an application with the managing party for using the VSP sites.

The information of those sites located on government land, managed by LandsD and available for application by non-government organisations (NGOs) or social enterprises for community, institutional or non-profit making purposes on a short-term basis has been uploaded to “GeoInfo Map” website.

The information as disseminated by LandsD on its “GeoInfo Map” website is a list of vacant government sites (including VSP) managed by LandsD which are available for application by the NGOs / social enterprises for community, institutional or non-profit making purposes on a short-term basis.  The list of VSP sites as published on PlanD’s website includes those sites reviewed under the Central Clearing House Mechanism with their recommended long-term uses and not all the sites are available for application for short term uses.

For VSP sites which are “permanently allocated”, it means that these sites have already been allocated to government departments / organizations permanently for long-term uses.  Hence, unless the designated uses are no longer suitable, these sites are not available for other uses.  As for VSP sites which are “temporarily allocated”, these sites are allocated to temporary uses by managing departments through short-term tenancy, licensing or temporary government land allocation, etc.  Depending on the tenure of the short term uses and the implementation progress of the longer-term uses, the uses of these VSP sites will be appropriately reviewed.

To make VSP fit for use, the Government launched a $1 billion funding scheme in 2019 to subsidise NGOs in carrying out restoration works on vacant government sites (including VSPs on government land) for short-term community, institutional or non-profit making uses.  For application procedures and other details, please contact the Development Bureau (DEVB) (plbenq@devb.gov.hk) or visit the DEVB website.

Generally speaking, for VSP sites located on private land, unless relevant land leases contain a cessation/diminution of user clause, land owners concerned can make use of the VSP sites at their own discretion, only that the uses of the sites shall conform to the requirements of the relevant statutory Outline Zoning Plans, lease conditions, and any other relevant legislations, etc.  In case the use concerned is not permitted under the relevant requirements, the land owner should make an application to the relevant departments.

For VSP sites located partly on private land and partly on government land, LandsD may decide whether the government land portion can be used for other long-term or short-term purposes, taking the actual situation of individual sites into account.  For details, please contact LandsD and check the list of VSP available for application for short-term uses on the “GeoInfo Map” website.

Since 17 May 2017, the list of VSP sites reviewed under the Central Clearing House Mechanism has been uploaded to PlanD’s website.  The list is also available at PlanD’s Planning Enquiry Counters (located at the North Point Government Offices and Sha Tin Government Offices) for public inspection.

In addition, the information on VSP sites has been circulated to District Offices and District Social Welfare Offices.  Members of the public can obtain information on the VSP list at District Offices and District Social Welfare Offices.