Annex 1

(Translation)

9 November 2016

Mr LAM Kai-fai, MH Chairman of District Development and Housing Affairs Committee (DDHC) under Southern District Council

Dear Mr LAM,

Proposed Agenda Item for the 6th DDHC Meeting on 28 November 2016: “Request for Opening Up the Podium of the Property Development Project above MTR Station for Provision of Public Space and the Construction of a Footbridge along Shum Wan Road”

The (SIL) is due for commissioning by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the Lands Department (LandsD) is drafting the terms of exchange concerning the granting of development rights of the former site of Wong Chuk Hang Estate to MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC). MTRC is about to invite tender for the phase 1 residential property development and begin the construction of the “Comprehensive Development Area”.

There is hearsay that the property development project above will generate at least $50 billion in revenue for MTRC; nevertheless, the SIL project costs $16.9 billion only. Indeed, MTRC has reaped enormous profits from its land development right. The Government is a major shareholder of MTRC. The current-term Government has also repeatedly urged MTRC to further uphold their corporate social responsibilities. In this connection, I call for opening up the podium of the property development project above MTR Wong Chuk Hang Station for provision of public space and the construction of a footbridge along Shum Wan Road by MTRC. The justifications are as follows:

1. a number of the podiums of the MTRC’s above-station property development projects are designated as public space. For instance, despite that MTRC or its property developers have exhausted all means in an attempt to privatise the public space of the respective podiums of the Elements shopping mall at Kowloon Station and the Coastal Skyline property development project above Tung Chung Station, members of the public can still access these podiums notwithstanding that LandsD has been so lax in enforcing the law. In the past, the residents in Wong Chuk Hang had free access to the public facilities and space inside the ex-Wong Chuk Hang Estate. Nonetheless, to boost property yields, MTRC intends to render the space above its residential properties into an “independent kingdom” severed from the peripheral communities; hence, the public will be denied access to the open space above the property development project at Wong Chuk Hang. In this regard, LandsD should not only designate the podium above Wong Chuk Station as “public space” for public enjoyment having regard to the principle of “social integration” but also take precautionary measures against illegal occupation of public space; and

2. the residents in Wong Chuk Hang strongly request for the construction of a footbridge at the junction of Shum Wan Road leading to the MTR mall, in order to facilitate their access to and from the MTR station. MTRC stated that the Government should undertake the construction of the footbridge, whereas space would be set aside by MTRC for connecting the mall with the footbridge concerned only. I reiterated that having reaped enormous profits from the land development right granted by the Government, MTRC has an obligation and is capable of undertaking the construction of community facilities in the periphery of Wong Chuk Hang Depot, in a bid to uphold their corporate social responsibilities. We urge MTRC to construct the footbridge concerned, so as to relieve traffic congestion and bring convenience to the public

Your approval to include this agenda item for discussion at the upcoming meeting will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

(signed) Proposed by: TSUI Yuen-wa

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