For discussion C&WDC Paper No. 26/2014 (Revised) Works and Services of Civil Engineering and Development Department in Central and Western District 1. Background After reviewing the District Councils’ (DCs) role, functions and composition, the Government made a number of recommendations such as arranging for Heads of Departments (HoDs) to attend DC meetings to enhance the communication between senior Government officials and DCs. This arrangement is supported by the DCs. The Director of Civil Engineering and Development will brief Central and Western District Council (C&WDC) on 20 March 2014 on the role of Civil Engineering Development and Department (CEDD) and its major projects in Central and Western District, as well as obtain the DC members’ views about the works of CEDD. 2. Organization, Works and Services 2.1 CEDD was established on 1 July 2004 after the merging of the former Civil Engineering Department and the former Territory Development Department. CEDD is one of the five works departments under Development Bureau. 2.2 The department has a headquarters, 2 functional offices (the Civil Engineering Office and the Geotechnical Engineering Office) and 4 regional development offices (the Hong Kong Island and Islands Development Office, the Kowloon Development Office, the New Territories East Development Office and the New Territories North and West Development Office). 2.3 Our works include developing new towns and strategic development areas to meet Hong Kong’s development needs, and to implement public works projects such as port development, land formation, landslip prevention and mitigation programme and environmental improvement works. We provide the following major services: Provision of land and infrastructure Port and marine services Geotechnical services Environment and sustainability services 3. Major Projects and Progress 3.1 CEDD’s major projects within Central and Western District are enclosed in the Table and listed below: (a) Central Reclamation Phase III – Engineering Works (CRIII) The purpose of CRIII is to provide about 18 hectares of land for construction of essential transport infrastructure. The Works comprised the reclamation, construction of roads, storm water culverts, drains, sewers and Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB), and reprovisioning of piers and public landing steps and pumping station structures for the cooling water pumping systems. CWB will become a strategic road along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island targeted to alleviate the traffic congestion along the existing Gloucester Road - Harcourt Road - Connaught Road Central corridor. The project was substantially completed in October 2011. The Advance Promenade was handed over to Leisure and Cultural Services Department for management and opened to the public upon completion in November 2012. (b) Construction of Additional Floors at Central Piers Numbers 4, 5 and 6 Construction of additional floors at Central Piers Nos. 4, 5 and 6 is one of the recommendations endorsed under the Urban Design Study (UDS) for the new Central Harbourfront in November 2009. Amongst other things, the UDS recommends the construction of one-and-a-half additional floors at Central Piers Nos. 4, 5 and 6 with a maximum height of +25mPD for dining, retail and other waterfront related uses with half of the new rooftop serving as open space for public enjoyment. We anticipate that the improvement works on these piers can further enhance the vibrancy of the harbourfront. The project was discussed in the PWSC meeting in June 2013 but was not supported due to concerns of Members about business model, rental maximisation and architectural design of the piers. To address LegCo members’ concerns, a market sounding/expression of interest exercise was commissioned in Sep 2013 to ascertain market potential and update the revenue income of the envisaged commercial operations. We plan to revert to PWSC and FC in Q2 2014. Subject to funding approval, we would invite tenders for works commencement in Oct 2014. (c) Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme (LPMitP) In 2010, we launched a rolling Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme (LPMitP) to systematically deal with the landslide risk associated with both man-made slopes and natural hillside catchments. Our objective is to contain the landslide risks in Hong Kong within an “As Low As Reasonably Practicable” level in the long term. Under the LPMitP, 42 man-made slopes and 5 natural hillside catchments in Central and Western District were upgraded. Currently, upgrading works for 10 man-made slopes and 13 natural hillside catchments in Central and Western District are in progress. The works are anticipated to be completed by mid 2015. In the coming year, we plan to upgrade another 13 man-made slopes and 4 natural hillside catchments in Central and Western District. The works are anticipated to be completed by mid 2016. Apart from the slope safety, we are also concerned about the appearance of the slopes. Vegetation cover is used whenever practicable in the slope upgrading works and landscape measures such as toe planters and stone pitching will be implemented to improve the appearance of the slopes. (d) “Universal Accessibility” Programme (UAP) The purpose of this project is to install lifts for 26 existing public footbridges, elevated walkways and subways in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to bring further convenience to the public. After consultation, the Traffic and Transport Committee (T&TC) of the C&WDC has chosen three priority items from the list of public proposals. The three footbridges are listed below: i. Foot bridge across Possession Street near Lower Lascar Row (Structure No.: HF46) ii. Footbridge along Cochrane Street near Tun Wo Lane (Structure No.: HF135) iii. Footbridge across Connaught Road West near Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park (Structure No.: HF142) CEDD started the technical feasibility study in June 2013. The feasibility study and preliminary design schemes for the structures were recently completed. HyD and CEDD consulted the T&TC of the C&WDC on 13 February 2014 regarding the preliminary design schemes. We are now actively following up on the member's proposal and consulting the stakeholders about the lift installation works. We anticipate that the construction works of installing the lifts will commence in 2015 and complete in 2017. (e) Ground Decontamination Works at Kennedy Town Comprehensive Development Area We consulted Food, Environmental, Hygiene and Works Committee of C&WDC on the proposed ground decontamination works in May 2013. We are actively following up on the Committee's comments and are reviewing our implementation proposal. We expect to consult the Committee again in the second half of this year. In response to the Committee's concerns, the contaminated soil buried underground and covered by a protective layer remains stable and has not affected health of the public. However, the potential risk to health of the public still exists. The earlier the decontamination works are completed, the earlier the environment could be remediated and hence the proposed development at the Kennedy Town comprehensive development area and the waterfront could be brought forward. Although the land use of the subject site is being reviewed by PlanD, the decontamination works which will take so many years to complete should commence as soon as possible in order not to delay the long term development there. Hence, there is an urgent need to complete the decontamination works. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the decontamination works is in progress and the EIA report is scheduled to be exhibited for public inspection in the second half of this year. After the EIA is approved by the Director of Environmental Protection, the necessary funding for the works is secured and the ex-Kennedy Town Incineration Plant and Abattoir site is returned by Mass Transit Railway Cooperation Limited to the Government, the decontamination works are expected to commence in 2015. Table – CEDD Projects Progress Report in Central and Western District Annex I – Location of CEDD Projects in Central and Western District Annex II – Location of Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Works in Central and Western District 20 March 2014 Table CEDD Projects Progress Report in Central and Western District As of 28 February 2014 Project Project Title Estimated Cost Bureau/ Anticipated Anticipated Engineering content / Remarks Progress/ Current Status No/ （Millions） Department Commencement Completion Date Category Date (Mth/Yr) (Mth/Yr)) 343CL Central 5,761.5 DevB 02/2003 10/2011 The purpose of CRIII is to provide about The project was substantially Reclamation 18 hectares of land for construction of completed in October 2011. Cat. A phase 3— /CEDD essential transport infrastructure. The engineering Works comprised the reclamation, The Advance Promenade was works construction of roads, storm water handed over to Leisure and culverts, drains, sewers and Central-Wan Cultural Services Department Chai Bypass (CWB), and reprovisioning for management and opened of piers and public landing steps and to the public upon completion pumping station structures for the in November 2012. cooling water pumping systems. CWB will become a strategic road along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island targeted to alleviate the traffic congestion along the existing Gloucester Road - Harcourt Road - Connaught Road Central corridor. - 1 - CEDD Projects Progress Report in Central and Western District As of 28 February 2014 Project Project Title Estimated Cost Bureau/ Anticipated Anticipated Engineering content / Remarks Progress/ Current Status No/ （Millions） Department Commencement Completion Date Category Date (Mth/Yr) (Mth/Yr)) 7049TF Construction About 700 THB 10/2014 12/2018 Construction of one-and-a-half The project was discussed in of Additional additional floors at Central Piers Nos. 4, the PWSC meeting in June Floors at 5 and 6 for dining, retail and other 2013 but was not supported Central Piers waterfront related uses with half of the due to concerns of Members Numbers 4, 5 new rooftop serving as open space for about business model, rental and 6 public enjoyment. maximization and architectural design of the piers.