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South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
HKU, officials push back against Hongkongers' development site proposal
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and authorities have pushed back against Pok Fu Lam residents' suggestion to build an innovation hub at an alternative site, saying it would take up more green belt area and overlap partly with a planned mortuary. HKU on Friday introduced a revised proposal for building its global innovation centre mainly on a residential plot, instead of a green belt area in Pok Fu Lam as originally intended, to the Town Planning Board. But residents in the area have hit out at the university for dismissing their suggestion to build the centre at a site on Mount Davis, saying no proper consultation was conducted. Permanent Secretary for Development Doris Ho Pui-ling, who is also the board's chairwoman, said the 8.6-hectare (21.6-acre) Mount Davis site rested on a green belt area, while some parts were not suitable for development. 'Everyone is trying very hard to avoid the green belt area in Pok Fu Lam as much as possible. This site [Mount Davis] seems to be going slightly against what we have been doing,' she said. Ho said the site covered areas reserved for the relocation of Victoria Public Mortuary, which has secured construction funding from the legislature.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
University of Hong Kong's revised IT hub plan angers Pok Fu Lam residents
A revised expansion plan by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has triggered fresh anger among Pok Fu Lam residents, who have accused it of dismissing alternative sites without proper due diligence and only meeting them for three hours over the past eight months. But some lawmakers on Wednesday said the university had made 'major concessions' by leaving a green belt in the area largely untouched and altering its proposal to instead consider building its global innovation centre on an adjacent residential plot. They also urged the institution to take steps to minimise the negative impacts on residents. The university revised its initial proposal after plans to build the centre on the green belt sparked fierce opposition from residents due to concerns over traffic, the environmental impact and a lack of consultation. Following the backlash, town planning advisers asked the university to consider alternative sites in the area and beyond, while calling on the institution to conduct more stakeholder consultations and adjust its proposal. The revised plan reduced the site size by 15 per cent and retains more than 75 per cent of the green belt. It was submitted to the Town Planning Board earlier this week for a meeting on Friday.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
University of Hong Kong calls Pok Fu Lam site best option for its innovation hub
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has said that Pok Fu Lam is the best location for building its innovation hub compared with alternatives such as the Northern Metropolis, arguing the site could yield the fastest outcomes and see the first section open its doors as early as 2032. Advertisement The university's stance was shared in a report submitted on Tuesday to the Town Planning Board about a revised development plan for HKU's global innovation centre. An initial proposal had suggested that the centre be built on a government-owned green belt along Pok Fu Lam Road, but the move faced strong opposition from residents last year due to concerns about traffic, the environmental impact and a lack of consultation. The plan was later revised to preserve more than 75 per cent of the green belt, with most of the innovation hub to be built on a nearby residential plot, while maintaining a distance of more than 100 metres (328 feet) from Upper Baguio Villa. The revised plan involves a site area of 40,000 square metres and a gross floor area of 190,000 square metres, with both representing a 15 per cent reduction from the previous proposal. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
13-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong urged to turn Hung Hom waterfront into city's answer to Cannes, Monaco
Hong Kong authorities have been urged to model the proposed Hung Hom waterfront project after Cannes and Monaco to help drive the city's mega-event economy, as some town planning advisers have questioned plans for more commercial facilities amid a high vacancy rate. Members of the Town Planning Board raised their concerns at the statutory body's meeting on Friday as the Development Bureau briefed advisers about its plan to turn 24 hectares (59 acres) in Hung Hom into a landmark waterfront featuring a yacht marina and a skyscraper. Roger Chan Chun-kwong, a board member and division head at the PolyU Hong Kong Community College, said the government could learn from overseas economies that hold mega-events along the harbourfront. 'We can try to explore and take reference from Cannes and Monaco in using their waters in organising some high-quality international mega-events. The harbourfront can serve as a catalyst to promote other developments in Hong Kong,' he said, citing the Cannes Film Festival and Formula One Monaco Grand Prix as examples. 'The government can be bolder and more creative to link up the harbourfront with existing and future activities so that Hong Kong can become a mega-event capital.' Member Kelly Chan Yuen-sau, who is an accountant by profession, added that the government could consider holding international dragon boat races in Hung Hom and organising regular shows as well as programmes in the area. Other members also suggested featuring more open space at the marina to hold exhibitions and events, and developing maintenance facilities for yachts, while ensuring public access to the venue.
South China Morning Post
22-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong developer will return part of wetland site to government management: report
A Hong Kong developer behind a controversial public housing estate at a major wetland will return part of the site with ecological value to the government and provide one-off funding for long-term conservation, according to an environmental impact assessment report. The 11.6-hectare (28.7-acre) development site is located in Nam Sang Wai and Lut Chau, a wetland area in northwest New Territories. The former is considered ecologically important and serves as a stopover for migratory birds, while the latter is near Mai Po nature reserve. The controversial development plan, part of the government's Northern Metropolis blueprint, aims to offer 2,521 residential homes, including 140 houses and 2,381 flats in 28 blocks. It was approved by the Town Planning Board in 2021 with conditions. Nam Sang Wai Development proposed a 'Balanced Master Plan for Responsive Conversation' aimed at a zero net loss in wetland function and area. It said 154.4 hectares of enhanced wetland would be provided in a few years and added to the protected wetland network. The report on the plan's environmental impacts, conducted by consultancy firm Mott MacDonald Hong Kong and released on Friday, said the developer intended to fulfil rules on the public-private partnership scheme in completing the wetland enhancement works. 'The requirements ... are that, inter alia, (i) a lump sum contribution be made to the government, and (ii) the conservation portion be surrendered to the government for management by the government,' the report read, adding that the government would be responsible for long-term conservation works.
