Three Outline Zoning Plans Approved for San Tin Technopole, Mai Po, and Ngau Tam Mei Development.

Three draft outline zoning plans for San Tin Technopole and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park approved

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft San Tin Technopole Outline Zoning Plan (OZP), the draft Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP and the draft Ngau Tam Mei OZP.

"The three approved OZPs provide statutory planning frameworks for the development of the San Tin Technopole (except the Loop) and the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (SPS WCP)", a spokesman for the Town Planning Board (TPB) said today (September 20).

The planning scheme area of the approved San Tin Technopole OZP, covering the San Tin/Lok Ma Chau (STLMC) area (about 1 004 hectares), is bounded by the Shenzhen River and the SPS WCP to the north, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park of the San Tin Technopole at the Loop to the north-east, Kwu Tung North New Development Area and Hadden Hill (Ki Lun Shan) to the east, Ngau Tam Mei area, San Tin Barracks and Tam Mei Barracks to the south, and Mai Po area to the west.

The planning of the STLMC area is not only to provide an innovation and technology (I&T) park but also a self-contained and vibrant town centre for a quality new town with green commuting, blue-green and "sponge city" features and a better home-job balance. About 313.24 hectares are zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU"), of which about 210 hectares are designated for I&T uses to create a critical mass in the area to foster I&T advancement, meet the increasing demand of land for I&T development and deepen the I&T collaboration with the Mainland and the world. The other "OU" zones are designated for specific uses, namely "Mixed Use", "Cultural and Community Uses with Supporting Uses and Facilities", "Logistics, Storage and Workshop", etc. Other areas are zoned "Residential (Group A)" (about 44.78 hectares), "Village Type Development" (about 78.48 hectares), "Government, Institution or Community" (about 56.52 hectares), "Open Space" (about 55.88 hectares), "Green Belt" ("GB") (about 207.29 hectares) and "Conservation Area" ("CA") (about 139.36 hectares).

The Explanatory Statement of the San Tin Technopole OZP has been revised to incorporate the requirements of a Planning and Design Brief for the future developments, which would be submitted to TPB for approval after consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The approved Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP No. S/YL-MP/7, which mainly involve (i) incorporating an area from the north-western part of the former San Tin OZP, with the major part rezoned from "CA" and "OU" annotated "Comprehensive Development and Wetland Enhancement Area" to "OU" annotated "Wetland Conservation Park" ("OU(WCP)") and the remaining part retained as "CA", and (ii) rezoning an area around Tam Kon Chau, Pak Hok Chau and Yau Mei San Tsuen from "CA", "Recreation" and "OU" annotated "Comprehensive Development to include Wetland Restoration Area" to "OU(WCP)". The "OU(WCP)" zone, which covers a total area of about 348.63 hectares, is intended primarily for the development of the SPS WCP by the Government to ensure no-net-loss of the ecological function of the wetlands.

The approved Ngau Tam Mei OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Ngau Tam Mei OZP No. S/YL-NTM/13, which mainly involve (i) excising land for incorporation into the San Tin Technopole OZP to reflect the boundary of the STLMC area, (ii) rezoning a site abutting San Tam Road from "Residential (Group C)" to "Government, Institution or Community (1)" for development of a proposed social welfare facility, and (iii) rezoning a site to the north of the Tam Mei Barracks from "Comprehensive Development Area" to "GB" to reflect the existing site conditions.

The Notes and Explanatory Statements of the Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP and Ngau Tam Mei OZP are amended to take into account the above amendments. The opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zones and the planning scheme areas, where appropriate.

The approved San Tin Technopole OZP No. S/STT/2, the approved Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP No. S/YL-MP/8 and the approved Ngau Tam Mei OZP No. S/YL-NTM/14, are available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Fanling, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long East District Planning Office, (iv) the Yuen Long District Office and (v) the San Tin Rural Committee.

Copies of the three approved OZPs are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the three approved OZPs can be viewed on the Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

Buildings Department responds to media enquiries on development project at Anderson Road

In response to media enquiries about the steel reinforcement installation works in the superstructure of a development project at Anderson Road, a spokesman for the Buildings Department (BD) today (October 4) gave the following response:

The BD received a report in late August alleging that the steel reinforcements of some structural elements in the superstructure works being carried out at the Anderson Road site had not been installed in accordance with the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance (Chapter 123) (BO). The BD attaches great importance to the incident and has deployed its staff to the site four times since early September to inspect site operations, quality of work, site safety and the like. During the inspection on September 26, the BD staff found that the number of steel reinforcements installed at six beams on 29/F of Tower 3 of the site was less than that required in the approved plans. Nevertheless, there was no obvious danger to the overall structure.

As neither the representative of the registered structural engineer (RSE) nor the representative of the registered contractor (RC) could provide a reasonable explanation immediately on that day, the BD staff met with the RSE on the following day (September 27) and requested him to submit a detailed investigation and remedial works report, including the need for additional sampling tests to determine whether similar situations existed on other floors of Tower 3 and in other towers.

To facilitate the investigation requested by the BD, works of the Anderson Road development project have been suspended since September 28. In addition to the investigation and remedial works report, the BD also requested for a proposal to strengthen site supervision, and the site works cannot be resumed until the BD is satisfied with the report and proposal.

The BD is continuing its investigation into the incident and will consider appropriate enforcement action upon receipt of the RSE's report on the incident.

The BD is also reviewing the superstructure works in seven other private developments being carried out by the same contractor, and will step up site inspections to check their site safety and quality of works.

Of the eight private development projects mentioned above, four were taken over from Aggressive Construction Engineering Limited (ACEL), which was removed from the register of general building contractors in November last year. The RC involved in the incident was another independent RC. Under the BD's registration system, an RC must have a suitable authorized signatory (AS) to supervise the works. The AS of the RC involved in this incident was not the AS of ACEL, whose name was removed during the processing of its application for registration renewal last year. The delisted AS could not act on behalf of an RC for the purposes of the BO unless he attended the interview again and passed the assessment of the Contractors Registration Committee.

The spokesman reiterated that the BD attaches great importance to the safety and quality of building works. Whichever contractor is involved, the construction works are subject to stringent control under the existing system. The BO stipulates that registered building professionals and RC must properly supervise the works, including ensuring the carrying out of building works in accordance with the approved plans. If registered building professionals, RC and their technically competent persons identify any non-conformities, they must follow the requirements set out in the Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009 (2024 Edition) and initiate the relevant procedures and rectify. The BD will conduct audit inspections at the critical stages of the building works, witness on-site tests, and review relevant certification documents for quality control.

The Anderson Road development project comprises six multi-storey residential towers, three of which (Towers 1, 2 and 3) are 32 storeys in height, while the remaining three (Towers 5, 6 and 7) are 24 storeys in height. Superstructure works for all six towers were underway, with the concreting works completed at various levels ranging from 22 to 29 storeys. Nine single-storey houses will also be built in the development.