Executive Summary of Inception Report - Hung Shui Kiu New ...

Agreement No. CE 2/2011 (CE)
Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area
Planning and Engineering Study
Executive Summary of Inception Report
1 OVERVIEW
1.1.1 The Chief Executive announced in his 2007-08 Policy Address the planning for New
Development Areas (NDAs) in Hung Shui Kiu and the North East New Territories as one of
the ten major infrastructure projects for economic growth. The NDAs shall alleviate the
demand of land due to the population growth and provide quality living space in the northern
New Territories.
1.1.2 The Planning and Development Study on North West New Territories (NWNT Study), which
was commissioned in October 1997 and completed in 2003, identified Hung Shui Kiu (HSK)
Strategic Growth Area (an area of about 450 ha) as a potential NDA to meet the long-term
housing demand of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
1.1.3 The NWNT Study put forward a Recommended Outline Development Plan, and a
Recommended Layout Plan was formulated in 2002 taking into account comments received
from the consultation exercise. The proposed development was confirmed to be feasible
and acceptable based on the findings and recommendations from the technical
assessments. However, in light of the slower population growth than originally anticipated,
the NDA proposal was shelved in 2003.
1.1.4 The study on Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy (HK2030 Study), which was
completed in 2007, recommended the implementation of the NDAs, including the NDAs at
Fanling North, Kwu Tung North and Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling (NENT NDAs) and at Hung Shui
Kiu, which shall be developed for multiple purposes, including the provision of land for
housing, education and community facilities, improvement of the degraded rural
environment, better protection of resources of high conservation value, timely development
of land for tertiary education, special industries and port back-up/open storage (PBU/OS)
uses, providing employment, etc. Particularly, NDAs can be an important source of public
housing land to address part of the anticipated shortfall in the medium to longer term.
1.1.5 To initiate the implementation of HSK NDA, the Civil Engineering and Development
Department (CEDD) and the Planning Department (PlanD) jointly commissioned the Hung
Shui Kiu New Development Area Planning and Engineering Study (HSK NDA Study) in
August 2011 to formulate proposal for the HSK NDA. AECOM Asia Co. Ltd. was engaged to
undertake the assignment.
i March 2012

Agreement No. CE 2/2011 (CE)
Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area
Planning and Engineering Study
Executive Summary of Inception Report
2 STUDY OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
2.1.1 The overall objective of this Study is to carry out planning, engineering and environmental
studies with a view to formulating a development proposal for the HSK NDA, confirming the
feasibility of implementing the proposal for the NDA to meet long-term housing, social,
economic and environmental needs, and formulating the implementation strategies and
programme with the first population intake by the year of 2024 or earlier by exploring the
feasibility of advancing development of some sites of the NDA. Specifically, the Study aims
to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy efficient, resource saving and
people oriented community. Through comprehensive planning, the NDA will provide a low
carbon quality living space and convenience to both residents and users.
2.1.2 This HSK NDA Study will mainly:
Formulate a development plan for the HSK NDA taking into consideration the latest
planning circumstances, community aspirations and development needs;
Conduct extensive community engagement exercises to engage the public key
stakeholders in the study process;
Confirm feasibility of the development proposal and associated engineering
infrastructure, and conducting associated technical and engineering assessments; and
Carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) including, amongst others, cultural
heritage impact assessment for the development and infrastructure of the HSK NDA.
3 KEY TASKS IN THE ASSIGNMENT
Conduct Stage 1 Community Engagement;
Review and update the baseline profile of the Study Area;
Review key issues including an initial review of the NDA boundary;
Establish guiding principles and generate conceptual land use options;
Undertake planning and technical assessments;
Undertake Environmental Impact Assessment;
Examine implementation mechanisms, approaches and institutional framework;
Prepare outline development programme;
Prepare Preliminary Outline Development Plan (PODP), Preliminary Master Urban
Design Plan and Landscape Plan;
Conduct Stage 2 Community Engagement;
Undertake detailed planning and technical assessments;
Formulate Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP), Recommended Master
Urban Design and Landscape Plan;
ii March 2012

Agreement No. CE 2/2011 (CE)
Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area
Planning and Engineering Study
Executive Summary of Inception Report
Prepare Preliminary Layout Plan (LP);
Conduct Stage 3 Community Engagement; and
Formulate Final Layout Plan, Final Master Urban Design and Landscape Plan
4 KEY ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS
Strategic and Local Planning Issues
4.1.1 The HSK NDA has locational advantage and the gateway features should be investigated at
its strategic location to enhance the identity importance of the area. During the course of the
Study, the status of land ownership, provision of Government, Institutions and Community
facilities, housing arrangement and existing PBU/OS uses shall be investigated. Reference
shall also be made to the previous NWNT Study; findings and recommendations of the
HK2030 Study; latest territorial population and household growth trend and long-term
housing demand; and the latest changes in public housing requirements and policy. General
public comments and aspiration should also be taken into consideration.
Implementation Mechanisms and Approaches
4.1.2 The majority of the land within the NDA is privately owned. Implementation mechanism,
mode of land acquisition and compensation arrangement should be investigated with regard
to the different aspirations of the public
Existing and Future Road & Railway Network
4.1.3 Traffic Impact Assessment will be conducted in order to assess the existing and future traffic
condition within or in the vicinity of HSK NDA and confirm the traffic feasibility of the
proposals of the NDA. Mitigation measures will also be proposed to mitigate the traffic
impacts. Possibility of developing environmentally friendly transportation and public
transport interchange will also be examined.
Environmental Constraints
4.1.4 Within or in proximity to the HSK NDA, the archaeological and built heritage resources and
areas with conservation importance will be identified. All the “No-Go Areas” will be reviewed
during the EIA. Mitigation measures should be implemented to minimize the potential
impacts to the areas with cultural heritage values and the conservation area. Landscape
and visual impacts shall also be assessed. Based on the findings of the EIA, the proposed
development shall be carefully considered to mitigate the potential adverse impacts.
Engineering and Technical Assessments
4.1.5 Technical assessments on infrastructure, drainage, sewerage, salt and fresh water supplies,
public utilities and geotechnical conditions will be carried out to support the formulation of
the proposed infrastructure and development of the HSK NDA.
iii March 2012

Agreement No. CE 2/2011 (CE)
Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area
Planning and Engineering Study
Executive Summary of Inception Report
5 KEY MILESTONE EVENTS AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAMME
5.1.1 A comprehensive 3-stage Community Engagement (CE) will be carried out to ensure timely
incorporation of public views into the planning and design of the HSK NDA. The Stage 1 CE
has ended in early February 2012. The public views and aspirations on the HSK NDA will be
taken into account in formulating the PODP. The Stage 2 CE, scheduled to commence by
the 4 th quarter of 2012, will seek public comments on the PODP and will take into account
the received comments and formulate the RODP. The Stage 3 CE, scheduled to
commence in mid 2013 will brief the public on how the Government has taken into
consideration the comments received at Stage 2 CE and will seek public comments on the
RODP to facilitate the formulation of Final LP.
5.1.2 The HSK NDA Study is anticipated to be completed in mid 2014.
iv March 2012