Public Can Now Inspect Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area

Statutory procedures for Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area to commence progressively; Environmental Impact Assessment Report available for public inspection

The Government announced today (October 6) that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the Ngau Tam Mei (NTM) New Development Area (NDA) is available for public inspection under the EIA Ordinance starting from today.

The Government conducted a two-month public engagement (PE) exercise in November 2024 to solicit public views on the land use proposals of NTM. Overall, members of the public supported the overall positioning of the NTM NDA (measuring about 130 hectares) as an Academic and Research District, which will include the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT, including the third medical school) and an integrated medical teaching and research hospital (Integrated Hospital) as its key components. Taking into account the public views collected, the Government has formulated the Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP) for the NTM NDA. The PE Report containing the Government's responses to major public views has been uploaded onto the project website (www.nm-ntm.hk/en/) today for the public's reference.

Adopting the RODP as its basis, the Civil Engineering and Development Department has conducted the EIA according to the EIA Ordinance, the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process and the EIA Study Brief for the works project for the development of the NTM NDA. Appropriate mitigation measures have been proposed to ensure the project complies with the EIA Ordinance requirements. The relevant EIA Report has been uploaded onto the EIA Ordinance website (www.epd.gov.hk/eia/en) for public inspection in accordance with the EIA Ordinance from today to November 4, 2025.

Upon the commissioning of the proposed Northern Link Main Line in 2034, the NTM NDA will only be one station away from the San Tin Technopole (STT). As much as about 40 per cent of the land in the eastern part of the NTM NDA has been reserved for the development of the UniTown. The UniTown will focus on scientific research to complement the innovation and technology development in the STT, promoting "research, academic and industry" collaboration. An Integrated Hospital is planned at the central part of the NDA to provide comprehensive healthcare services for the existing and planned population in the Northern Metropolis, which can also serve as a teaching hospital in support of the third medical school. In the western part of the NDA, a residential neighbourhood with predominant private housing, alongside a Dedicated Rehousing Estate added in response to public demand, is proposed around the planned NTM Station, providing about 13 000 residential units in total. The NTM drainage channel running along the NDA will be revitalised to enhance flood resilience in the area and create an engaging public realm for leisure and water-friendly activities.

The statutory town planning procedure for the NTM NDA will commence later this year. Planning details and subsequent site formation and infrastructural works will fully complement the works of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, which has been set up to formulate the development strategy of the NMUT, with the aim of forming the first batch of UniTown sites at NTM by 2028 to enable superstructure works.

Members of the public can visit the website of the NTM NDA for the latest information about the project.

Source: AI-found images

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video)

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, met the media today (April 3), after observing the implementation of the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount" on the first day at Tiu Keng Leng Station Public Transport Interchange. Following are Mr Sun's remarks at the media session:

Reporter: How do you evaluate the first-day roll-out of the scheme, and how do you address the fact that some elderly are not comprehensively understanding the whole implementation?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Today, 3rd of April, is the date when the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount" is officially launched. For minibuses and for buses, the launch time was midnight today. For the MTR, it started from its first train which departed the terminal at 5.30am this morning.

So far, based on our territory-wide promotion, and also my own personal contact with the elderly through my visit to Wong Tai Sin including a public market and a restaurant, most of them are familiar with the operation of the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount". They know the operation is very straightforward, for any fare that is at $10 or below, they still just need to pay $2. For fare that is over $10, the elderly just bare 20 per cent of the cost, and the rest of the fare will be borne by the Government. I gave them an example, for a bus fare that charges an adult for $15, the elderly people with JoyYou card would only have to pay $3, i.e. 20 per cent of the fare.

So, apart from today, we are also going to step up our promotion through television, radio and posters which have been posted all around Hong Kong. Also, as you can see, in 75 spots in Hong Kong, we are stationing the ambassadors for a total of three weeks. They are in the spots to help answer questions about the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount". Apart from that, we have had the support of district councillors, Care Team members, and also staff of our welfare NGOs (non-governmental organisations). They are using their own ways to explain the operation of the "$2 flat rate or 80 per cent discount". We are pretty confident that the scheme is now being launched smoothly, and for those who will be using the new arrangement, they know about the operation.

Thank you very much.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by SLW at media session (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases