The Town Planning Board has deferred a decision on the application for hotel and open space development at Ship Street and Kennedy Road in Wan Chai.

The board said the applicant today presented an improvement proposal involving a reduction in the proposed development intensity, the number of hotel rooms and building height as well as an increase in open space provision.

The board considers it necessary to gauge public views on the applicant's latest proposal through the Wan Chai District Officer to allow a due process of public consultation before making a decision.

Noting that a Legislative Council case conference on the project will be held on December 20, the board decided legislators' views should also be taken into account as they may have relevance to the consideration of the application.

Decision in February

The board will make a decision on the application in February after the consultation. The mega tower hotel project was rejected by the board's Metro Planning Committee last April.

After the review hearing in July, the board requested the applicant to submit further information to demonstrate that concerns relating to the development scale, traffic, visual, tree felling, open space, sunlight and ventilation aspects could be satisfactorily addressed.

The applicant made further submissions in writing and at the hearing to address the concerns, and an improved proposal was presented.

As the public members have not yet had the opportunity to express their views on the improvement proposal, the board has asked the Wan Chai District Officer to seek the opinions of the local community.