APPENDIX 7 – REVIEW OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON EXISTING LANDSCAPE

 

Territorial Development Strategy Review (1996)

The 1996 Territory Development Strategy Review includes a strategy for the landscape of the SAR. The landscape of the SAR has been mapped and divided into a series of broad types. The TDSR’s classification system covers both descriptive and evaluative content within the description of any one landscape type (presumably to aid brevity of presentation).

The TDSR includes the following designations which were referenced as support for landscape evaluations:

Metroplan (1989)

The Metroplan Landscape Strategy for the Urban Fringe and Coastal Areas (MLS) (1989) was prepared as a component of Metroplan, the strategic planning document for the urban fringe and coastal areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. In addition, the Urban Design Statement – Key Plan provides a mapped analysis of the urban area together with an outline strategy, largely in terms of existing land use.

The MLS and Urban Design Statement include a number of designations which were referenced as support for landscape evaluations. These include:


The Study is restricted to strategic matters in the urban fringe and coastal areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. As the Study is now some years old, data was reviewed during field survey to ensure its validity.


Development Statements

Development Statements usually include a review of landscape resources. After a review of Developments Statements, the following data has been determined to be of use to the Study:


Planning and Development Study on Hong Kong Island South and Lamma Island (2004)

The Planning and Development on Study on Hong Kong Island South and Lamma Island contains a stand-alone ‘Landscape Value Appraisal’ Report. The report presents a comprehensive breakdown of the Study area into local ‘landscape character areas’ (LCAs) with corresponding descriptions, rating of landscape sensitivity and detailed landscape planning guidelines for each LCA. There is also a broad landscape strategy for each LCA. Major landscape features are mapped (though woodland mapping is not presented in this report). The Landscape Appraisal Plan is also identifies recreational provision and potential. Photographs of selected features are provided in the EIA report.

Descriptions of character, condition and sensitivity were used as references when preparing the analysis of different LCAs in the Landscape Character Map.


Planning and Development Study on North-east New Territories (2002)

The Planning and Development on Study on the North-east New Territories contains a fairly comprehensive description, mapping and evaluation of the landscape of the north-east New Territories. Woodland is mapped and the landscape is broken down into Landscape Character Units. The LCUs are in effect ‘landscape character areas’ and are accompanied by descriptions of features and landscape character, together with photographs of selected features. These LCUs are also assigned a value from ‘low’ through to ‘high’.

Descriptions of character and features were used as references when preparing the analysis of different LCAs in the Landscape Character Map. Areas of particular value will be put onto the database as references for landscape value.


Planning and Development Study on North-west New Territories (2003)

The Planning and Development Study on the North-west New Territories contains a limited description and mapping of the landscape of the North-west New Territories. Key landscape elements are mapped (woodland, topography and hydrological features). There is no mapping or classification of landscape types or landscape character.

There is no data in this study which is not available more comprehensively from other sources.

The Development proposals for Hung Shui Kui were developed in association with the above study, Hung Shui Kiu is identified as a potential new development area, to be termed Hung Shui Kiu New Town. The new town is planned to house a total population of 160,000, of which 100,000 would be accommodated in high-density development.

Material available on this Study does not suggest that it contains any information relevant to the current Assignment.


Study on South-east New Territories Planning and Development Strategy Review (2001)

The Study on the South-east New Territories Planning and Development Strategy Review contains a fairly comprehensive description of landscape character and quality, mapping and evaluation of the landscape of the South-east New Territories. Major landscape features are mapped and landscape is broken down into Landscape Character Units. The LCUs are in effect ‘landscape character areas’ and are accompanied by appropriate descriptions of features and landscape character, together with photographs of landscape context and selected features. These LCUs are also assigned an evaluation from ‘low’ through to ‘high’. Prescriptive strategic actions for landscape are included in the ‘Tourism and Recreation Framework’.

Descriptions of character and features were used as references when preparing the analysis of different LCAs in the Landscape Character Map.


South-west New Territories Development Strategy Review (2001)

The South-west New Territories Development Strategy Review contains only limited reference to landscape values, as part of a wider conservation strategy. The existing Country Park and proposed extensions as well as SSSIs, features of ecological interest and features of heritage interest are identified. There are brief landscape descriptions within the Tourism and Recreation Proposals.
There is no data in this study which is not available more comprehensively from other sources.


Development Statements for the Urban Areas

Development statements have thus far been prepared for the following urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon:


Amongst other subjects, these statements develop the objectives for landscape and urban design established by Metroplan. Most therefore include (to some extent) an analysis of the landscape and townscape characteristics of their areas.


Hong Kong Island West Development Statement – Final Report (1999)

The Hong Kong Island West Development Statement – Final Report provides a written description and analysis of the landscape of the Study area and provides an action plan which is linked to open space; recreation; pedestrian movement and streetscape and environmental objectives. Landscape is mapped largely in terms of the broad categories used in the Metroplan Landscape Strategy for the Urban Fringe and Coastal Areas. It also includes an action plan for future landscape improvements.

Descriptions of landscape or townscape character were used as references when preparing the analysis of different LCAs in the Landscape Character Map. The urban environment is analysed (in the text) in terms of:


Tsuen Wan/Kwai Tsing Development Statement (1992)

The Urban Design, Landscape, Open Space and Recreational Frameworks Report for the study provides an analysis of landscape issues. This comprises an analysis of fung shui characteristics. A number of key landscape character areas are identified on plan and described in the text with a limited amount of illustrative material. Specific key issues and problems are identified.

The description of key landscape areas, features and characteristics were used as references when preparing the analysis of different LCAs in the Landscape Character Map.


Comprehensive Feasibility Study for the Revised Scheme of South-east Kowloon Development (2001)

This study supersedes 'The South-east Kowloon Development Statement - Final Report: Volume 1 Development Proposals (1993) report. It does not offer a significant analysis or description of existing landscape or townscape conditions or features, other than a brief statement under the 'Environmental Impacts Section' in which key landscape features are mentioned. Otherwise, the report focuses on the prescriptive aspects of the development.

There is little data in this study which is not available more comprehensively from other sources.


West Kowloon Development Statement (1993)

The West Kowloon Development Statement – Final Technical Report: Volume 1 Report contains a brief description of the key landscape characteristics of the area. A small number of key landscape issues are noted on plan. The report contains a brief description of the key urban design characteristics of the area. Key problems and shortcomings are noted. A small number of key urban design issues are noted on plan. Most of the report is devoted to identifying proposals.


Central and East Kowloon Development Statement (1998)

The Central and East Kowloon Development Statement – Final Report provides a brief textual analysis of different land uses, which cover a number of landscape issues, including quarries, waterfront areas, undeveloped land, open space. There is analysis in plan format of building age and building height.


Government Technical Studies

Development of Former Marine Police Headquarter at TST (2001)

The objective of the study is to preserve the historical buildings and optimise development of this vacant site as a tourist attraction. The Study provides textual and graphic information on features of heritage interest and on trees (including a tree survey).

Information on features of cultural and heritage interest was drawn from the study.


Study on Revitalisation of Tai O (2001)

The study is tasked to formulate a planning strategy to revitalise Tai O while conserving its attractive natural landscape and cultural heritage. Available data on the study contains limited information on landscape issues with somewhat more on heritage and cultural issues.

Information on features of cultural and heritage interest was drawn from the study.


Urban Design Guidelines for Hong Kong (2003)

The main of objective of this 2000-2002 study is to prepare a set of urban design guidelines to promote more design consideration in the development process, and to provide a broad framework for urban design assessment. Urban design principles are identified as follows:


Design guidance is generally generic and therefore of little relevance to the current Assignment. Site-specific guidance is provided for views across Victoria Harbour, but this is not relevant to the current Assignment.


Hong Kong 2030 (ongoing)

This study seeks to plan the way in which Hong Kong develops physically over the next 30 years. Using similar studies in London, Tokyo and Singapore as precedents, the study considers the key components required for successful development of the territory. Planning objectives include adhering to the principle of sustainable growth, balancing social, economic and environmental needs for present and future generations, providing a framework for an efficient transport system, meeting housing needs, promoting tourism and strengthening links to the Mainland. The study is ongoing.

The study does not appear hitherto to have produced any data which might be of value to the Assignment.


Study on Village Improvement and Upgrading of Lei Yue Mun Area (2002)

This study was commissioned by Planning Department in 1999 in response to overall objectives made by the Central and East Kowloon Development Statement (CEKDS) which proposed that Lei Yue Mun be retained for village development. The study access opportunities to enhance this eastern gateway to Hong Kong Harbour for improved living conditions and tourism development, whilst retaining and capitalising upon the area's unique charm. Proposals include a waterfront promenade on stilts, gateway features, rest gardens and generally improved open spaces, footpaths and streetscape.

The study contains limited baseline review of landscape, cultural and heritage issues. The limited material available will be used as background data on landscape value in the current Assignment.


Planning and Engineering Feasibility Study for Development at Anderson Road (1998)

The study was commissioned by the then Civil Engineering Department and reported in 1998. The study deals with a currently vacant site below the existing Anderson Road Quarry in east Kowloon and examines the potential to restore part of the site for public and private high-rise housing development together with associated public open spaces, schools and GIC facilities. If implemented, the Study would have potential to cause change to the character, condition, sensitivity or value of LCAs.

The study contains some useful background data on landscape resources and cultural issues (graves, temples) in written and graphic format, which was used as part of the Study.


Planning Study on the Harbour and its Waterfront Areas (2003)

This study was commissioned by Planning Department in 1999 to propose ways of achieving the CEO’s Vision Statement for Victoria Harbour namely: “To make Victoria Harbour attractive, vibrant, accessible and symbolic of Hong Kong - a harbour for the people and a harbour of life.”

Key issues were considered poor public accessibility to the Harbour, competing demands for waterfront (e.g. cargo areas and typhoon shelters) and lack of waterfront attractions. Various initiatives were proposed to create opportunities to achieve the aforementioned vision statement. These included core waterfront development for tourism, improved accessibility and waterfront promenades. If implemented, the proposals would have potential to create a positive change to the character, condition, sensitivity or value of LCAs.

The study contains some useful background data on areas deemed to have a positive or negative landscape character, which was used as part of the Assignment.


Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

Landscape and visual impact assessments (LVIAs) have been carried out in Hong Kong for a number of years as part of technical and feasibility studies and as the wider EIA process. Predominant professional practice has been to identify impacts on landscape character as part of this process, as part of which an analysis of existing landscape character and resources is required. Preparation of LVIAs was formalised under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Ord.No.9 of 1997) and its accompanying Technical Memorandum in 1998.

In the LVIA process, the following aspects of the existing landscape are normally defined:
 

Prior to the EIA Ordinance, there was considerable variation in the amount and quality of data included in LVIAs. After the Ordinance came into force, there has been a more consistent level of recorded data on landscape resources and character.

However, from a review of technical studies and EIAs identified in Annex 2 of the Study Brief, it is clear there remain often considerable differences in depth and scale of data recording between different projects (as is inevitable where projects are of different scales). An example of these discrepancies is in the recording of landscape units and landscape character. Certain LVIAs include landscape character areas only. Others use what could more accurately be described as landscape character types. Even in the case of LCAs, there is often a difference in the scale at which they are recorded (which is a legitimate professional decision made on the basis of the scale and type of the landscape, the scale of the project and the judgment of the professionals concerned).

Further problems with using technical studies or LVIAs as a data source on landscape include:

Both regional and sub-regional studies have the key virtue that they are reasonably comprehensive in scope. However, the information in ad hoc technical studies and in EIAs is problematic because it is far less consistent in technical approach. In addition, information on landscape value is not normally presented in LVIAs.

The comprehensive desk-top and field survey in this Study would not benefit from and might in fact be potentially compromised by the inclusion of ad hoc, inconsistent data of differing ages. It is therefore suggested that data from ad-hoc technical studies and LVIAs not be included in the database and that instead the Study rely on the comprehensive baseline survey using data from more comprehensive sources verified by field survey.


Hard-copy Information (Non map-based data)

Data available in non map-based sources includes:

Literary Sources

Technical English Language Literature - Apart from Government commissioned technical studies and research, there is a limited literature produced for the general public on the Hong Kong landscape and townscape. These fall broadly into technical literature and ‘recreational’ literature. Useful technical literature includes general studies on the geography and ecology of Hong Kong, such as Hills and Streams, An Ecology of Hong Kong (Dudgeon and Corlett, 1994), A Geography of Hong Kong (Chiu, 1983), The Soils and Agriculture of Hong Kong (Grant, 1962). The Urban Council of the Hong Kong Government has also published an extremely useful series of technical guides on the flora, fauna and earth sciences of Hong Kong.

This literature provides mainly objective and verifiable data on landscape resources. However, more relevant or up to date information is usually available from GIS based sources and it is not anticipated these sources will be of particular assistance in the classification process (though they will assist a more generalised understanding of landscape process).

Non-technical English Language Literature - Of the 'non-technical literature’, a number of studies in English have been produced which offer insights, descriptions and secondary historical information on the Hong Kong landscape. Of particular note are The Hong Kong Countryside (Herklots, 1951), Hong Kong’s Wild Places (Stokes, 1995), Exploring Hong Kong's Countryside (Stokes, 1999); Across Hong Kong Island (Stokes, 1998), the Coastal Guides Series (Friends of the Earth, various), and The Green Dragon (Williams ed., 1994).

Covering the urban area, there are few non-historical books which deal with the urban landscape. There are numerous pictorial books have been published aimed at the recreational reader, notably the ‘Over Hong Kong’ series. These provide a limited amount of useful information, although much is quickly out of date. Studies of some interest are Mapping HK (Gutierrez and Portefaix, 2000) which deals with the townscape of Hong Kong from a ‘popular geography’ approach.

Considerable historic data on the Hong Kong landscape and townscape is available in the popular literary sources. These range from historic maps in Mapping Hong Kong (Empson, 1992) to the series of historic photographs published by former Urban Services Council in City of Victoria - A Selection of the Museum’s Historical Photographs (Ho ed., 1994).

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Annual Report 2001 contains an inventory of all buildings of design merit which were awarded prizes since 1965. This is a useful starting point for establishing the value of modern built features in the urban landscape, although it should be recognised that although a given building may be of architectural merit, not all such buildings may be of landscape value. Therefore buildings on the HKIA list need to be subject to further discrimination.

Of the recreational literature, those documenting the history of the townscape and landscape through maps, photographs and paintings will be of considerable use in tracing the development of the Hong Kong landscape and townscape. Other literature is of some value, though this is limited by an often un-scientific approach, piece-meal coverage and by the fact that in Hong-Kong’s rapidly changing landscape, much of it is quickly out-of-date.

Little of this literature was more relevant in the classification process than data already available in digital format. However, much of the literature has some use in establishing consensual landscape value or in understanding the process of landscape change. Problems with this data however included its age, format, detail or categorisation, all of which required interpretation and validation during the review stage and during field survey.

Chinese Language Literature - The Team accessed a number of useful Chinese language source materials, which are primarily guides and references to important sites and features in the Hong Kong urban and rural landscape. These included references listed in the Bibliography.

Much of this literature contains material which is not readily available in English language sources, particularly detailed inventories of landscape features which are 'off the beaten track': in particular geomorphological formations, hydrological features and features of cultural interest. A certain proportion of these features could most properly be classed as 'curios'; and are not of immediate relevance in landscape terms. However, much of this information is of relevance, principally as evidence of perceived landscape value.

Like the English language data, there are issues of data format, age, detail, presentation, etc. which were addressed during data review and field survey.


The Expressed Views of Public and of Experts.

Views received during public consultation or in opinion polls are relevant support for consensus on landscape value. Views on the landscape value of particular landscape features or areas will be considered as part of decisions on landscape value.
The views of the public are like other sources of data, particularly susceptible to problems of compatibility, and issues of detail, format and presentation. Where such views are reasonably comprehensive and structured (as in the case of opinion polls) they were used to assist in evaluations made during the Study.

 

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