Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2016-17 Reply Serial No.

DEVB(PL)425 CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY

(Question Serial No. 4040)

Head: (118) Planning Department

Subhead (No. & title): (-) Not Specified

Programme: (1) Territorial Planning

Controlling Officer: Director of Planning (K K LING)

Director of Bureau: Secretary for Development Question: Please advise on the specific work (including that of the consultant) and the expenditure involved in the Preliminary Feasibility Study on Developing the New Territories North in 2015-16? Has any land title investigation been conducted? Have the affected villagers and rural committees been consulted? Why has its release of findings been postponed until 2016?

Asked by: Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung (Member Question No. 69) Reply: The Planning Department and the Civil Engineering and Development Department jointly commissioned the Preliminary Feasibility Study on Developing the New Territories (NT) North (the Study) to examine the development potential of the NT North and the strategic infrastructure required for the development and the development of a modern new town there on a scale similar to that of Fanling/Sheung Shui New Town. It will formulate broad land uses and development scale of the potential development areas in the NT North and ascertain their preliminary development feasibility and sustainability in terms of engineering, traffic and other infrastructure capacities, environment and ecology, etc.

The study area generally covers the land to the north of ’s northern hill ranges viz. , Pak and . It is roughly bounded by San Tin Highway in the west and the North East New Territories Landfill and its surrounding hill ranges in the east. The study area is about 5 300 hectares (ha). The Study is in progress and it is intended that potential development areas for housing (including public housing) and other uses will be identified for further studies. The public will be consulted on the findings and recommendations arising from the Study in due course.

The expenditure of the Study in the 2015-16 was $8.4 million. For this study, a broad analysis on the land ownership pattern (i.e. Government or private land) has been undertaken. No land title investigation has been undertaken. Given the extensive coverage of the study areas (5 300 ha) and the diverse issues involved, we expect the Study would be completed in 2016.

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Session 16 DEVB(PL) – page