miscellaneous planning standards and guidelines - HKU Libraries

34(a) Fire, Hazard and Public Safety IssuesLand DisposalFire/hazard prevention, means of escape and other public safetyissues are of crucial importance to the design of caverndevelopments. The Director of Fire Services and the PrincipalGovernment Building Surveyor should be consulted on theirrequirements.(b) Radon Emission and Gas IncidenceIt is standard practice in the design of all underground space toprovide adequate ventilation in order to avoid the accumulation ofgas. The Director of Environmental Protection, the Director ofFire Services, the Commissioner for Labour and the Director ofHealth should be consulted on their requirements.(c) Blasting Noise, Vibration and SubsidenceSome cavern schemes may require blasting in close proximity tobuilding structures and transport lines. When such operations arelikely to be involved, advice on the stability "of adjoiningstructures and requirements for preventive measures wherenecessary should be sought from the Mines Divison of GEO andrelevant authorities/ departments.(d) Drainage, Servicing and Other Utility ProvisionsConsultation with the Director of Drainage Services, the Directorof Water Supplies and. other utility companies should be made ontheir requirements on the provision of utility facilities to thecavern development.For private projects, a planning brief will be prepared by the Plan Dto fist the development parameters and the above technicalrequirements. The planning brief will be used as the basis fordrawing up the lease conditions.2.3*8 The disposal of land for underground cavern development will followcurrent procedures either as a land allocation for public projects ora land sale/grant for private projects. Land sold/granted for privatecavern projects would be counted towards the annual land sale quota.2.3.9 Due to the complexity of space which cavern developments usuallyincur, there are practical difficulties in defining plot ratio andsite coverage. The development content and relevant control on thecubic content of the development should ideally be specified in theform of^ a three dimensional development 'envelope 1 on thelease/engineering conditions. This Envelope 1 should be developed inconsultation with the GEO and should define an inner space withinwhich cavern construction is-permitted, and an outer surrounding space(for maintenance of cavern support) within which excavations or otherworks should not be permitted apart from access tunnels, drainageadits, and ventilation shafts. Relevant departments should beconsulted on the maintenance requirements of the proposed developmentfor incorporation in the engineering/lease conditions.