Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineering Works 2020 Edition CHAPTER 3 LAND MATTERS The parts of the PAH shown in blue and bold should only be updated by Works Branch of Development Bureau. Rev Issue Date Amendment Incorporated First Issue October 2020 NA Chapter 3 (Rev. 0) 1 Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineering Works 2020 Edition SYNOPSIS This chapter sets out the procedures for the acquisition and control of land required for projects managed by CEDD, DSD, HyD and WSD. It does not cover the land requirements of quasi-government bodies such as the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), but it describes the procedures necessary to avoid any possible interference with these land requirements. The authority for land matters is the Director of Lands (D of L) who exercises his duties through the respective District Lands Offices (DLOs). The role of CEDD, DSD, HyD and WSD in land matters is either as a works department requiring the temporary use of the site and associated areas, or in some instances as the operation department requiring the permanent use of the land. Because of the large number of departments that have a pertinent interest in land matters, it is necessary for formal procedures for the reservation, allocation, acquisition and clearance of land to be followed before any land can be made available for works to proceed. This chapter does not give details of procedures to be followed by the Lands Department (LandsD), which are covered by Land Instructions (LIs). However, reflections have been made to concur with the procedures laid down in the LIs. It describes certain legislative procedures related to land matters, such as the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance, Land Drainage Ordinance, Foreshore and Seabed (Reclamations) Ordinance, Town Planning Ordinance, Sewage Tunnels (Statutory Easements) Ordinance, Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation and the Road Traffic Ordinance under which formal consultation with the public is mandatory. The need for timely commencement of the various stages of land procedures is emphasized. Nevertheless, the readers are reminded that the latest updates of the reference documents should always be referred to. When the land is available for works to proceed, usually a third party, e.g. a contractor, takes possession of the site. It is necessary that the land is properly managed during the course of the works and that all or part of it is handed back to the Land Authority in a prescribed manner in due course. Guidance on these aspects of project administration is given, including the need for suitable contractual arrangements where contractors are involved. Some measures have been introduced to streamline the delivery of public works projects, including an expedited procedure implemented by the LandsD. For a project which is of average size, LandsD shall deliver the site to Works Departments within eight months after the Executive Council (ExCo) authorization of the road scheme under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance, Cap. 370 or ExCo decision on the public purpose of the project under Cap. 124, whichever is the later. In addition, simplified procedures have also been promulgated for submission of Land Requirement Report and Land Requirement Plan. Chapter 3 (Rev. 0) 2 Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineering Works 2020 Edition CONTENTS SYNOPSIS .................................................................................................................................. 2 CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................ 3 I. ABBREVIATION........................................................................................................... 8 II. GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................................................................................. 11 1. NOT USED ................................................................................................................... 14 2. AUTHORITIES AND POLICY BODIES.................................................................... 15 2.1 GENERAL ........................................................................................................ 15 2.2 DISTRICT LANDS CONFERENCE ............................................................... 15 2.2.1 Membership ........................................................................................ 15 2.2.2 Terms of Reference ............................................................................. 16 2.2.3 Frequency ........................................................................................... 16 2.3 POLICY COMMITTEE ................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Membership ........................................................................................ 16 2.3.2 Terms of Reference ............................................................................. 17 2.3.3 Frequency ........................................................................................... 17 3. MAIN PROCEDURES FOR PROVISION OF LAND................................................ 18 3.1 GENERAL ........................................................................................................ 18 3.2 RESERVATION OF SITE ............................................................................... 18 3.2.1 Request ............................................................................................... 18 3.2.2 Selection ............................................................................................. 18 3.2.3 Project Site Plan Preparation .............................................................. 19 3.2.4 Follow-up Action ................................................................................ 19 3.3 PROJECT PLANNING .................................................................................... 19 3.3.1 Preliminary Project Plan ..................................................................... 20 3.3.2 Project Plan ......................................................................................... 20 3.3.3 Approval ............................................................................................. 20 3.3.4 Follow-up Action ................................................................................ 20 3.4 LAND ALLOCATION ..................................................................................... 21 3.4.1 Request for Allocation ........................................................................ 21 3.4.2 Preliminary Allocation Plan ............................................................... 21 3.4.3 Allocation Conditions ......................................................................... 21 3.4.4 Approval ............................................................................................. 22 3.4.5 Allocation of Amenity, Sitting-out Areas and Quality Roadside Greening ............................................................................................. 22 3.4.6 Notification of Allocation ................................................................... 22 3.4.7 Follow-up Action ................................................................................ 23 3.5 ACQUISITION AND CLEARANCE .............................................................. 23 3.5.1 Clearance Programme ......................................................................... 23 3.5.2 Clearance Application ........................................................................ 24 3.5.3 Processing ........................................................................................... 25 3.5.4 Acquisition and Clearance of Potentially Contaminated Industrial Sites ..................................................................................................... 26 3.5.5 Land Acquisition Prioritization Exercise (LAPE) .............................. 26 3.6 CHANGE OF USE ........................................................................................... 30 Chapter 3 (Rev. 0) 3 Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineering Works 2020 Edition 3.6.1 Circumstances Involved ...................................................................... 30 3.6.2 Planning Request ................................................................................ 30 3.6.3 Allocation Check ................................................................................ 30 4. SUBSIDIARY PROCEDURES FOR PROVISION OF LAND .................................. 31 4.1 ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 370 ................................................................................................. 31 4.1.1 Purpose and Definitions ...................................................................... 31 4.1.2 Authority and Delegation ................................................................... 32 4.1.3 Minor Works ....................................................................................... 32 4.1.4 Major Works, the Plan and the Scheme .............................................. 32 4.1.5 Public Consultation ............................................................................. 33 4.1.6 Preparation of the Plan ........................................................................ 33 4.1.7 Preparation of the Scheme .................................................................. 34 4.1.8 Gazetting the Plan and the Scheme ...................................................