Kowloon central: Director of Planning Bosco Fung unveils the Preliminary Outline Development Plan for Kai Tak.

Public views are being sought on a draft development plan which proposes to turn Kai Tak into a hub for sports, recreation, tourism, business and quality housing.

Unveiling the proposal today, Director of Planning Bosco Fung said on the basis of the "no reclamation" scenario, the plan has proposed a balanced development for the district. It covers 328 hectares, including 48 hectares of built-up area along the To Kwa Wan, Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong and Cha Kwo Ling waterfront.

The future Kai Tak development is proposed to accommodate an overall population of about 87,000 and to provide about 85,000 job opportunities.

Proposal details

Under the draft plan, there will be six main sub-areas of Kai Tak, namely Kai Tak City Centre, Sports Hub, Metro Park, Runway Precinct, Tourism and Leisure Hub, and Mixed Use Corner.

Kai Tak City Centre will be the main development area and the Sha Tin to Central Link Kai Tak Station and the surrounding Station Square will be its core.

The area mainly consists of an office belt in the north, inter-mixing with hotel developments. A Government centre is proposed to the east of Station Square, comprising offices and community facilities.

To the south of Station Square, a podium-free residential neighbourhood based on an articulated street grid pattern has been proposed. The neighbourhood comprises rows of town houses and medium-rise blocks.

The public housing development sites are the eastern area, with higher development intensity.

A multi-purpose stadium is located on the waterfront. The complex will be connected to Metro Park in the south and will connect to Kai Tak Station through a landscaped walkway and open space.

A Dining Cove comprising small shops and cafes highlights this corner of the Kowloon Bay waterfront.

'Central Park'

Metro Park will provide recreation and waterfront commercial and tourism-related facilities to turn it into the "central park" of East Kowloon.

The Runway Precinct is a low-density residential development with shop frontage at ground level for a leisurely lifestyle. The pedestrianised shopping street will help add vibrancy to this part of the runway area.

In the eastern part of the precinct, a landscaped deck will be introduced to separate vehicle and pedestrian traffic. A continuous waterfront promenade is proposed on both sides of the precinct to bring people to the harbour.

The proposed two-berth cruise terminal and tourism node will be two major anchor projects to attract local and overseas visitors to this part of the Victoria Harbour. Runway Park at the end of the former airport runway will include facilities with an aviation theme.

A heliport has been proposed near the cruise terminal. It will share customs, immigration and quarantine facilities with the cruise terminal.

Public participation

The Town Planning Board and the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee have been briefed on the proposal.

The two-month public participation programme will include a public forum on July 8 and district forums for Kwun Tong, Kowloon City and Wong Tai Sin on July 15, July 29 and August 5. Exhibitions of the draft plan proposals, including a model, will be held at these forums and other venues.

Upon completion of the programme on August 23, the Government will finalise the plan and technical assessments, with a view to submitting the proposals to the Town Planning Board in October as the basis to amend the Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plans.

For details of the draft plan visit the department's website.