E Kowloon to become core business district
October 12, 2011
Chief Executive Donald Tsang proposes to develop East Kowloon into a premier business district to provide an additional office floor area of 4 million square metres.
In his 2011-12 Policy Address today, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong’s traditional core business districts can no longer satisfy the growing demand for office space, so the Government must develop another core business district in East Kowloon.
In the past decade, the total floor area of Grade A office space in Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay has increased by 2.5 times to 1.4 million square metres. With the development of the office belt and tourism and leisure facilities at Kai Tak, combined with revitalised industrial buildings, East Kowloon is poised to be developed into a premier business district that could provide an additional office floor area of 4 million square metres.
Mr Tsang said the Government is drawing up development strategies for the district, which include enhancing East Kowloon's internal and external connectivity. This may include improving pedestrian access networks, building an environmentally friendly linkage system through the entire district, and strengthening connectivity through the MTR Kwun Tong Line and the future Sha Tin-to-Central Link.
Urban design concepts with greening features and pedestrian promenades would be used. The Government would also advocate development that includes cultural, leisure and water sports activities to energise the business district.
Government offices will be relocated to Kai Tak, releasing government facility sites for commercial development, he said, adding the Development Bureau will bolster manpower to promote the district's development.
Industrial buildings revitalised
Mr Tsang said the Government has made encouraging progress in better utilising vacant or under-utilised industrial buildings through redevelopment or wholesale conversion. The measures will be extended for three more years.
“By the end of [September], the Lands Department has approved 35 applications, involving the demolition and redevelopment of nine industrial buildings and the wholesale conversion of 26 others, providing a total gross floor area of 380,000 square metres for non-industrial uses. Another 23 applications are being processed,” he said.
“To provide room for creativity in conversions, we will allow minor alterations to the frame of the buildings. We will also encourage owners to apply for green building certification of the converted buildings.”
