Hong Kongs Harbour Unlocking its PotentialNicholas BrookeChairman12 May 2005Professional Property Services Limited

Victoria Harbour Waterfront A century ago

Background and ContextHistorically economic growth the paramount driverImpact on Waterfront = price of Hong Kongs developmentReclamation essential to provide new land for both development and infrastructureCommunity in transient rather than ownership mode

Background and ContextMid 90s saw growing awareness of importance of harbour and environmental issuesEmergence of Society for the Protection of the Harbour (SPH)Culminating in Protection of the Harbour Ordinance Presumption against reclamation in main harbour area

Boundary of Harbour as defined in the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance

Background and ContextMajor initiative by the Town Planning Board to set a framework for the future planning of the waterfrontPromoted New VisionTo make Victoria Harbour attractive, vibrant, accessible and symbolic of Hong Kong a harbour for the people and a harbour of life

Town Planning Board GoalsTo bring the people to the Harbour and the Harbour to the peopleTo enhance the scenic views of the Harbour and maintain visual access to the harbour-frontTo enhance the Harbour as a unique attraction for our people and tourists

Town Planning Board GoalsTo create a quality harbour-front through encouraging innovative building design and a variety of tourist, retail, leisure and recreational activities, and providing an integrated network of open space and pedestrian linksTo facilitate the improvement of the water quality of the Harbour

Town Planning Board GoalsTo maintain a safe and efficient harbour for the transport of people and goods and for the operation of an international hub port

Court of Final Appeal (CFA) JudgmentThe CFA handed down its judgment on 9 January 2004 in respect of the judicial review on the Draft Wan Chai North OZP (S/H25/1).According to the CFA judgment, the presumption against reclamation specified in the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance can only be rebutted by establishing an overriding public need for reclamation.

Court of Final Appeal (CFA) JudgmentOverriding public need must satisfy the following requirements:-CompellingPresentPublicMinimumNo Reasonable Alternative

The need must go far beyond something which is nice to have, desirable, preferable or beneficial

Latest DevelopmentsGovernment and Business Community has responded in two ways:-Creating the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee (HEC), an advisory body to GovernmentSetting up the Harbour Business Forum (HBF), a coalition of diverse businesses and professionals

HEC Vision & MissionVisionVictoria Harbour : A harbour for the people, a harbour of life

MissionTo transform Victoria Harbour and its harbour-front areas into an attractive, vibrant, accessible and sustainable world-class asset

HEC - Harbour Planning PrinciplesPreserving Victoria Harbour as a Natural, Public and Economic AssetVictoria Harbour as Hong Kongs IdentityA Vibrant HarbourAn Accessible Harbour

HEC - Harbour Planning PrinciplesMaximizing Opportunities for Public Enjoyment Integrated Planning for a World-class HarbourSustainable Development for the HarbourEarly and Ongoing Stakeholder Engagement

HBF Mission StatementHarbour is core to Hong Kongs heritageWish to see Harbour as a vibrant, accessible and sustainable world class assetProvision of diverse leisure and business opportunitiesTo achieve consensus amongst business community and to engage stakeholders and Government

HBF Mission StatementThe development and implementation of an integrated plan to reflect and articulate the common vision for the HarbourConsider the establishment of an authority with responsibility for the planning, implementation and management of Hong Kongs Harbour and harbour front

The Key IssuesNo single body to take responsibility for the coordination, implementation and management of the master plan for the HarbourMoved from little public involvement to selected consultation to much wider community participation

The Key IssuesMany competing uses for waterfront, some essential, some incompatible. Consensus can only be taken so far. In final analysis, difficult choices have to be madeBy who and how should that be done

Sheung Wan

Sheung Wan

Central

Central

Central

Queensway

Queensway

Wan Chai

Wan Chai

Wan Chai

Fortress Hill

North Point

North Point

Tsimshatsui

Tsimshatsui

Tsimshatsui

Tsimshatsui

Immediate ChallengesCentral / Wanchai waterfrontEpitomy of the challenge of balancing traffic and infrastructure options with public access and enjoyment considerationsBrings into play wider issues in terms of transport policy, planning and pricingAlso raises fundamental issues on land use determination, presently decided by TPB

Extract from Wanchai & Adjoining Areas Public Engagement Kit

Immediate ChallengesFuture of Kai TakOngoing envisioning exerciseNo reclamation option Maintenance of spirit of Kai TakPossibility of cruise terminalPreference for blend of leisure tourism and quality housing But raises whole issue of territorial requirements and their distribution

Kai Tak The Situation Today

Immediate ChallengesWest KowloonOngoing consultation on three development optionsEven if one of these schemes is chosen, who will monitor implementation and management of community facilitiesSerious possibility that Government will decide to revisit financial model and undertake fresh exercise to secure greater community support for ultimate solution

Potential Site for West Kowloon Cultural District

Immediate ChallengesOther ongoing initiativesFerry piersTsimshatsui waterfrontYau Tong Bay

AND A LOT MORE

Issues For DebateWhere do we go from here and is there a role that ULI can play and proactively contribute to the enhancement of Hong Kongs waterfront?How do we bring together the various diverse interests and move forward within the framework of the Harbour Ordinance and the decision of the Court of Final Appeal?

Thank youProfessional Property Services Limited