URA roadshow unveils development concepts for Kwun Tong Town Centre
A district-wide roadshow on three future development concepts of
the Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment project of the Urban
renewal Authority (URA) is unveiled today (Thursday), marking a
major milestone of the project, by far the largest single project
ever undertaken by the URA in terms of size and complexity.
The three concepts are developed separately by three architectural
consultant firms based on various notional schemes proposed by the
Kwun Tong community and planning and architecture professionals in
a participatory workshop in January this year.
Whilst the concepts adopt different styles and features, all three
aim to give Kwun Tong a town centre of quality urban living
combining extensive greening, large open space, enhanced public and
community facilities, all-weather transport interchange, quality
residential homes and a commercial hub commensurate with Kwun Tong
as a large town of over 600,000 people. On display are plans,
layouts, models, illustrations and 3-D computer animations giving
visitors a full view of the future.
The roadshow begins with an exhibition at a former temporary
hawker market in Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong till the end of this
month. It then moves to three other venues in the district,
all part of URA's two-month consultation initiative to gauge public
views on the future blueprint of the project.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the roadshow, the Chairman of
the URA, Mr Edward Cheng, said he personally shared the concerns of
the residents who longed for the Kwun Tong town centre to be
redeveloped. "They have been living in a poor and dilapidated
environment for many years and their anxieties are understood and
indeed have sent us a very strong signal that the town centre
redevelopment cannot and should not wait any longer."
"To speed up the process, the URA had worked, and would continue
to work, closely with the community with a view to putting forward
a planning application for the project to the Town Planning Board
within this financial year," said Mr. Cheng.
"What has clearly emerged from the first three rounds of our
consultation with the local community over the past two years is
that there is overwhelming support for the redevelopment
project. The mainstream consensus of the local community
points to an eventual vibrant and robust Kwun Tong able to generate
an impetus for sustainable economic, social and community
development in the next few decades,"
"The new town centre will serve as an important hub for
commercial, business, public service and shopping activities for
East Kowloon. To meet the needs of Kwun Tong in this regard,
and for planning purposes, a portion of the project will be
earmarked for higher development intensity. This development
intensity will however be in compliance with the provisions of the
Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines and the Kwun Tong
Outline Zoning Plan," Mr. Cheng said.
Mr. Cheng stressed that the partial higher commercial development
intensity notwithstanding, the future town centre would feature a
high ratio of greenery and open space, and that the podium design
usually adopted in major developments would be greatly
reduced. In addition there would be improved streetscape with
widened pedestrian walkways, and street shops would be retained as
far as practicable. The end result would be 'greater harmony
between residents and the environment'.
"This mega project for Kwun Tong is definitely the hardest
challenge ever for the URA and local community in
partnership. With the support of the majority of our
stakeholders, however, I am confident that we will overcome all
hurdles and provide Kwun Tong with a new town centre that will be
the jewel of East Kowloon and the pride not just of Kwun Tong
residents, but of the community at large," Mr. Cheng
concluded.
The conceptual design themes of the consultants are as
follows:
- "Metamorphosis" by wda group: "Adopt a simple straight forward design concept which evolves from the traditional town centre to form a new oasis. Street culture and enjoyment of shopping merged in harmony."
- "Civic Hub" by Ma Leung & Associates Architects (HK): "A civic square is created as the focal point of the development. Aiming to create a quality town centre and to enhance its presence and identity in East Kowloon."
- "A New Centre for East Kowloon, The Model City of Tomorrow" by Wong & Ouyang (HK): "Creation of a new town centre for Kwun Tong and East Kowloon, a new focus for community life."
Apart from the exhibitions, the roadshow also includes a series
of reach-out presentations by URA staff to target community groups
in Kwun Tong to brief and consult them on the project. These target
groups include Area Committees and other residents' associations,
business proprietors/operators, hawkers associations, transport
operators associations, NGOs, professional institutes, schools and
other educational bodies, religious and ethnic minority groups,
etc.
The Social Work and Social Administration Department of the
University of Hong Kong has been commissioned to undertake an
opinion survey at the exhibition venues and briefing
sessions. At the same time, a total of 40,000 consultation
documents on the design plans and models have been published for
distribution.
At the conclusion of the consultation exercise and based on
community feedback as well as other relevant policy and financial
considerations, it is URA's aim to make a submission to the Town
Planning Board for its consideration before the end of March
2007.
Other officiating guests at today's ceremony include the Chairman
of the Kwun Tong District Council, Mr. Chan Chung-bun; the Chairman
of the Kwun Tong District Advisory Committee, Professor David Lung;
URA Board Member, the Hon. Fred Li; URA Board Member, the Hon. Chan
Kam-lam; the Hon. Alan Leong; Kwun Tong District Officer,
Miss Pauline Wong; the Chairman of Kwun Tong District Council
Working Group on Urban Redevelopment and Industrial Land Use, Mr
Nelson Chan; and the Managing Director of URA, Mr. Billy Lam.
(ENDS)
The roadshow on the Kwun Tong Town Centre Redevelopment Project
will be held at the following venues:
- 10 - 31 August 2006 (11:00 am - 8:00 pm)
71 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong - 2 - 9 September 2006 (11:00 am - 7:00 pm)
apm Office Tower Lobby - 19 - 20 September 2006 (12:00 noon - 9:00 pm)
Metro City Plaza II, Level 1 Atrium, Tseung Kwan O - 25 - 27 September 2006 (12:00 noon - 9:00 pm)
Lei Yue Mun Plaza, Level 1, Promotion Venue, Yau Tong