Stage 2 Community Engagement Report January 2016 Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report This report takes into account the particular instructions and requirements of our client. It is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any third party and no responsibility is undertaken to any third party. Job number 228228 Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd Level 5 Festival Walk 80 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Tong Kowloon Hong Kong www.arup.com Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Department Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report Contents Page 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Study Background 1 1.2 Purpose and Structure of this Report 2 2 STAGE 2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 3 2.1 Objectives 3 2.2 Briefing Sessions 3 2.3 Focus Group Meetings 8 2.4 Community Forum 10 2.5 Site Visit 11 2.6 Roving Exhibitions 12 2.7 Distribution of Publicity Materials 12 2.8 Written Submissions 12 3 OVERVIEW OF KEY COMMENTS AND RESPONSES 13 3.1 Overview 13 3.2 Study Objectives and Study Area 13 3.3 Land Use Planning and Urban Design 15 3.4 Infrastructure 27 3.5 Others 33 4 WAY FORWARD 37 Appendices Appendix A List of Stage 2 Community Engagement Activities Appendix B Meeting Minutes and Gist of Meeting of Briefing Sessions Appendix C Gist of Meeting of Focus Group Meetings Appendix D Gist of Community Forum Appendix E Gist of Site Visits Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Department Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report Appendix F List of Written Submissions Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Background 1.1.1.1 Since the announcement of Policy Address 2011-12, review of the agricultural land in Yuen Long currently used mainly for industrial purposes and temporary storage or deserted has been a land supply measure to meet the housing and other development needs. 1.1.1.2 In November 2012, the Planning Department (PlanD) and Civil and Engineering Development Department (CEDD) commissioned Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd. (the Consultant) to conduct the “Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Sites in Yuen Long South – Investigation” (the Study). The objective is to examine and optimise the development potential of the degraded brownfield land in Yuen Long South (YLS) for housing purposes and other uses with supporting infrastructure and community facilities, and to improve the existing environment. 1.1.1.3 The Potential Development Areas (PDAs) of YLS are located to the south of Yuen Long New Town, and largely bounded by Yuen Long Highway and Kung Um Road. To the south is the Tai Lam Country Park. The PDAs on the Preliminary Outline Development Plan (PODP) cover an area of approximately 216 hectares across two main parts, one in the Tong Yan San Tsuen (TYST) area and the other in the area along Kung Um Road. These are the areas within which sites for housing developments and supporting facilities will be identified. 1.1.1.4 The Study comprises four phases, namely the Inception Phase, Option Formulation Phase, Preferred Option Assessment Phase and Recommended Option Finalisation Phase. In order to facilitate public participation at the early stage of the Study and to foster consensus on the study proposals, a three-stage Community Engagement (CE) programme has been formulated for the Study. 1.1.1.5 The Stage 1 Community Engagement (CE) was conducted between April and June 2013 to solicit public views on the development opportunities and constraints, the identified key issues relating to the PDAs, as well as the aspirations on the vision and guiding principles. Taking into account the public views received, the PODP, Preliminary Master Urban Design Plan (MUDP) and Preliminary Landscape Master Plan (LMP) were formulated, and related planning and technical assessments were conducted at the Option Formulation Phase. 1.1.1.6 The Stage 2 CE was conducted at the end of the Option Formulation Phase between May and July 2014 to collect views from the public on the PODP. Findings collected during the Stage 2 CE have been taken into consideration for the Preferred Option Assessment Phase, including the refinement of the PODP, Preliminary MUDP, Preliminary LMP and the formulation of the draft Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP) and preliminary Layout Plans (LPs). Planning and technical assessments have also been further conducted to confirm the feasibility of the draft RODP, preliminary LPs and associated infrastructures. Page 1 Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report 1.1.1.7 The Stage 3 CE to be carried out at the end of the Preferred Option Assessment Phase is to brief the public on how the Government has taken into consideration the comments received during the Stage 2 CE in formulating the draft RODP and obtain feedback to facilitate the preparation of LPs and the refinement of proposals. 1.2 Purpose and Structure of this Report 1.2.1.1 The purpose of this Report is to summarise the public views received during the Stage 2 CE and set out the responses to these comments. The comments and suggestions received would be considered and serve as an input to facilitate the refinement of the PODP, the preliminary MUDP and LMP, and the formulation of the draft RODP where appropriate. 1.2.1.2 This Report comprises the following chapters. • Chapter 2 provides a summary of the activities undertaken during Stage 2 CE and the major comments received in each activity; • Chapter 3 provides an overview of the key comments received and the general responses to these comments; and • Chapter 4 outlines the way forward for the Study. Page 2 Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report 2 STAGE 2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 2.1 Objectives 2.1.1.1 The Stage 2 CE was conducted between 12 May and 14 July 2014 to solicit views from the public on the PODP for YLS. A list of the activities undertaken and photos are provided in Appendix A. A brief account of the activities undertaken and the key views and comments received in the each activity are summarised below. 2.2 Briefing Sessions 2.2.1.1 Briefing sessions were undertaken to solicit the views of the relevant statutory and advisory boards/committees. A total of 13 briefing sessions and follow-up meetings as listed in Table 2-1 were conducted, and a summary of the views and comments received at each of the briefing sessions are provided below. Table 2-1: List of Briefing Sessions and Follow-Up Meetings Date Briefing Sessions/Follow-Up Meetings 23.05.2014 (Fri) Ping Shan Rural Committee 06.06.2014 (Fri) Town Planning Board 06.06.2014 (Fri) Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee Follow-up meeting with Tin Liu Tsuen, Muk Kiu Tau Tsuen, 19.06.2014 (Thu) Pak Sha Tsuen, Wong Nai Tun Tsuen and Shui Tsiu San Tsuen 20.06.2014 (Fri) Follow-up meeting with Shan Ha Tsuen 22.06.2014 (Sun) Kam Lan Monastery 22.06.2014 (Sun) Follow-up meeting with Lam Hau Tsuen 24.06.2014 (Tue) Yuen Long District Council 27.06.2014 (Fri) Follow-up meeting with Tong Yan San Tsuen Follow-up meeting with a Yuen Long District Council member 03.07.2014 (Thu) and members of Democratic Party 07.07.2014 (Mon) Legislative Council Panel on Development Planning Sub-Committee of Land and Development Advisory 09.07.2014 (Wed) Committee 11.07.2014 (Fri) Follow-up meeting with a Yuen Long District Council member 2.2.2 Ping Shan Rural Committee 2.2.2.1 The briefing to the Ping Shan Rural Committee was held on 23 May 2014 and three follow-up meetings with Shan Ha Tsuen, Lam Hau Tsuen and TYST were held on 20 June, 22 June and 27 June 2014 respectively. Comments are recorded in the minutes and gists of meetings in Appendices B-1, B-5, B-7 and B-9 respectively. 2.2.2.2 Members of the Rural Committee were mostly concerned about the interface between existing villages and future public housing and the proposed residential developments and rural industrial uses. They were also concerned about the inadequate transport facilities and the increased flooding risk caused by the new Page 3 Planning Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department Agreement No. CE 35/2012 (CE) Planning and Engineering Study for Housing Sites in Yuen Long South - Investigation Stage 2 Community Engagement Report developments. Some members asked about the relocation arrangement of the existing open storage and rural industrial uses, and suggested using the abandoned agricultural land for industrial and residential uses. The “Village Type Development” (“V”) zone should also be expanded to accommodate the development needs of various villages. 2.2.2.3 Three follow-up meetings were subsequently arranged with the adjacent villages including Shan Ha Tsuen, Lam Hau Tsuen and Tong Yan San Tsuen.