Secretary for Development Carrie Lam has welcomed a developer's decision to significantly cut the scale of the Hopewell Centre II project in Wan Chai.

She today told lawmakers the developer will submit a revised scheme soon, adding the reduced development intensity will help discussion between the developer and the Transport Department on the traffic impact assessment.

The total gross floor area will be cut 31% on the 1994 approved scheme, and the plot ratio will be reduced from 15, permissible under the approved scheme, to 10.3. While site coverage will constitute 20% of the comprehensive redevelopment area as in the approved scheme, the building height will be lowered from 93 to 55 storeys.

The number of hotel rooms will be reduced from 2,197 to 1,024 and only convention facilities of an appropriate quantity will be added. The commercial and office floor areas will also be reduced.

Despite the cut in scale the developer will still provide 5,880 square metres of open space for public use in accordance with the approved 1994 scheme. It will preserve and revitalise the adjoining Nam Koo Terrace, a Grade I historical building outside the application site. It will also develop the land surrounding Nam Koo Terrace, which is also owned by the developer, into open public space.

Mrs Lam said the Government will reactivate discussion on land exchange matters based on the revised scheme and the established land policy. The developer will follow up with the Transport Department on the traffic impact assessment report and road improvement works in the context of the new revised scheme.