Agreement No. CE 29/2014 (GE) Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas - Feasibility Study Stage 1 Public Engagement Report (Final Report) Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Study Background ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Study Programme and Public Engagement.................................................................................. 1 1.3. Structure of Report ....................................................................................................................... 3 2. STAGE 1 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS/ACTIVITIES ........................................ 4 2.1. Overview of Stage 1 Public Engagement .................................................................................... 4 2.2. Pre-Engagement Community Meetings ....................................................................................... 5 2.3. Advisory and Statutory Bodies Meetings .................................................................................... 6 2.4. Focus Group Meetings ................................................................................................................. 9 2.5. Public Planning Workshops ....................................................................................................... 10 2.6. Other Meetings........................................................................................................................... 12 2.7. Outreach Activities .................................................................................................................... 13 2.8. Roving Exhibition ...................................................................................................................... 13 2.9. Web-based Photo Sharing (PhotoVoice) ................................................................................... 14 2.10. Stage 1 Public Engagement Publicity ........................................................................................ 14 2.11. Media Coverage ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.12. Written Comments Received ..................................................................................................... 15 3. SUMMARY OF KEY COMMENTS AND RESPONSES .............................................. 17 3.1. An Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 17 3.2. Overall Comments ..................................................................................................................... 17 3.3. SUA (1) – Tsim Sha Tsui West ................................................................................................. 20 3.4. SUAs (2) & (3) – Causeway Bay and Happy Valley ................................................................. 25 3.5. SUA (4) – Admiralty/ Wan Chai ............................................................................................... 28 3.6. Other Key Issues ........................................................................................................................ 31 4. WAY FORWARD ............................................................................................................... 34 Appendices Appendix I Summary of Notes from Pre-Engagement Meetings/Events Appendix II Summary Notes from Wan Chai District Council Meeting Appendix III Summary Notes from Yau Tsim Mong District Council Meeting Appendix IV Summary Notes from Town Planning Board Meeting Appendix V Summary Notes from Harbourfront Commission Meeting Appendix VI Summary Notes from Focus Group Meetings Appendix VII Summary Notes from Public Planning Workshops Appendix VIII Summary Notes from Invited Meetings and Briefing Sessions Appendix IX PhotoVoice Entries Appendix X List of Media Coverage Appendix XI View Collection Form Template Appendix XII List of Commenters 0 May 2019 Agreement No. CE 29/2014 (GE) Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas - Feasibility Study Stage 1 Public Engagement Report (Final Report) 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Study Background 1.1.1. Hong Kong is a city with high population density. Many urban areas in Hong Kong are experiencing heavy pedestrian and vehicular flows leading to congested street environments. Further, limited land resources have restricted the scope in the urban areas to resolve congestion problems and satisfy long-term community needs. This imposes challenges for the urban areas to become more liveable places for citizens from all walks of life. Underground space is a hidden land resource which can bring new opportunities to meet some of the community needs as well as to address various issues including traffic, environment, etc. 1.1.2. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and Planning Department (PlanD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (the Government) commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited (AECOM) to undertake the Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas – Feasibility Study (the Study) in June 2015 to evaluate the opportunities and challenges of underground space development to create space, enhance connectivity and improve the urban environment in four selected Strategic Urban Areas (SUAs), namely Tsim Sha Tsui West, Causeway Bay and Happy Valley, and Admiralty/Wan Chai, and to formulate Underground Master Plans to guide future underground space developments in Hong Kong. 1.1.3. A two-stage Public Engagement (PE) programme was developed as an integral part of the Study process. The Policy for Sustainability Lab of the Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong (HKU-PSL), in association with PlanArch Consultants Ltd, has taken up the design and implementation of PE tasks and compilation and analysis of public views received for this Study. The PE was carried out to establish a proactive approach for transparent and open communication with the general public and interested stakeholders. 1.2. Study Programme and Public Engagement 1.2.1. The Study was undertaken in three phases: i. Identify potential underground space locations: to examine opportunities and challenges related to underground space development in the four Strategic Urban Areas, and to examine possible uses for the potential underground spaces; ii. Identify suitable underground space development: to undertake technical assessments, to prepare Conceptual Schemes, and to prepare Preliminary Underground Master Plan(s); and iii. Refine Conceptual Schemes and Underground Master Plans. 1 May 2019 Agreement No. CE 29/2014 (GE) Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas - Feasibility Study Stage 1 Public Engagement Report (Final Report) Figure 1 - Public Engagement Process and Study Programme for PE1 1.2.2. As an integral part of the Study, the two-stage PE programme is interwoven into the overall study process as indicated in Figure 1 above. The objectives of the two PE Stages are: Stage 1 PE: Soliciting public and the relevant stakeholders’ views on the opportunities and key considerations for underground space development, community needs, as well as suitability and possible uses of the potential underground space in the four SUAs; and Stage 2 PE: Building consensus to formulate conceptual schemes and preliminary Underground Master Plans of the underground space development for community well- being with a view to early implementation. 1.2.3. In addition to the Study Programme, a series of pre-engagement activities took place in October 2015 for the purpose of understanding some stakeholders’ views on their needs and aspirations at the district and community level in the selected SUAs. Stage 1 PE for the Study was then 2 May 2019 Agreement No. CE 29/2014 (GE) Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas - Feasibility Study Stage 1 Public Engagement Report (Final Report) formally launched in November 2016 and completed in February 2017. Various PE activities were conducted to engage the general public and interested stakeholders throughout the three month PE period. A more detailed list of activities will be provided and discussed in Chapter 2. 1.3. Structure of Report 1.3.1. This Report is a consolidation of findings from the Stage 1 PE held during the period between November 2016 and February 2017. Throughout this period, PE events/activities of various formats were carried out to provide a platform for the general public and interested stakeholders to express their views, suggestions and concerns on the Study. The Report is presented in four chapters: Chapter 1 states the background and objectives of the Study and Stage 1 PE programme; Chapter 2 presents the PE activities carried out and their respective methodologies; Chapter 3 summarises the views collected from the public and interested stakeholders at the PE events/activities; and Chapter 4 discusses the way forward of the Study. 3 May 2019 Agreement No. CE 29/2014 (GE) Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas - Feasibility Study Stage 1 Public Engagement Report (Final Report) 2. STAGE 1 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS/ACTIVITIES 2.1. Overview of Stage 1 Public Engagement 2.1.1. The