Social News
Written by: Zhang Jiamin
2021-06-10 00:00
Last update date: 2021-06-10 00:00
The local research agency and Greenpeace conducted a study on brownfields in Hong Kong and found that there are about 1,965 hectares of brownfields in Hong Kong, which is 379 hectares behind the government data.
They also discovered that 70 hectares belonged to "invisible brownfields", that is, brownfields that were once brownfields in the past but have been covered by vegetation after being abandoned but have no use for the time being.
A piece of land in Hung Shui Hang, Sheung Shui, has been repeatedly leveled and vegetated for at least three times since 1993, involving 0.4 hectares of "invisible brownfield".
In addition, there is an 8.3 hectare "invisible brownfield" at Lotus Land in Yuen Long that has been left unused.
Cai Nuozheng, a member of the Local Research Institute, pointed out that the government's brownfield research does not cover land that has been covered by vegetation, but "invisible brownfields" may "regenerate" at any time.
"Invisible brownfields" means that these lands are currently not used for brownfield operations, but have been repeatedly turned into brownfields in the past or showed signs of land leveling, and then grassland has been planted.
Planning Department's brownfield definition misses "invisible brownfield"
According to the Brownfield Research Report published by the Planning Department, brownfields are defined as cultivated land in the New Territories that have been levelled for industrial, storage, logistics and parking purposes, and 6 types of land that are excluded as brownfields are listed, one of them To be covered by vegetation or observed to be covered by vegetation or with no signs of present or previous disturbance such as grassland, woodland and scrubland
Group reveals that part of the government’s leaked 379 hectares of brownfields invaded country parks and advocates regular updates of data
The local research agency and Greenpeace searched through satellite images and found that there are about 70 hectares of "invisible brownfields" in Hong Kong.
Among them, at Dinosaur Hang, Sheung Shui, government data indicated that there were 1.7 hectares of brownfields, while private data indicated that there were 3.4 hectares, including 0.4 hectares of "invisible brownfields."
Since 1993, the land has changed from green to brown at least three times.
According to satellite images from 1993, the site was still a piece of green land at the time. It was leveled on a large scale in 2000. However, four years later, in 2004, the land was covered with vegetation and returned to a green area, and the land reappeared the following year. Flat condition.
The local research agency and Greenpeace published a report on the status of the "brownfield crime" brownfields.
(Photo by Luo Junhao)
Has been involved in illegal development and was required to restore the status quo
According to the information from the Land Registry, some of the above-mentioned "invisible brownfields" were issued by the Planning Department in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Enforcement notices and reinstatement notices were issued by the Planning Department. The land is restored to its original condition.
According to satellite images, the land was emptied in 2011, but it was leveled again in 2019.
At the end of May this year, it was seen that part of the land was used for open storage, containers and cranes.
In 2019, brownfields were expanded to connected green spaces.
Checking the information of the Planning Department, some of the newly opened brownfield sites have applied to the Planning Department for rezoning, involving open storage, storage, filling and other uses, but the respondent finally withdrew the application.
Brownfield of Lotus Land in Yuen Long.
(Pictures provided by Local Research Agency and Greenpeace)
The lotus land covers 8 hectares of invisible brownfields
Another piece of land involving "invisible brownfields" is located at Lotus Land in Yuen Long. Government data indicates that there are 0.6 hectares of brownfields, but private data has 11 hectares, including 8 hectares of "invisible brownfields." Among them, the area is the largest; and the brownfield is also adjacent to the Kam Tin South Development Area, which has certain development potential.
The local research agency and Greenpeace searched through aerial and satellite photos from 1963 to the present, and found that the site was originally a fish pond and farmland. It had become an open storage yard in 1993, although part of the area was not re-created thereafter. For storage purposes, there is still a leveling situation, and this year the land has been regrown with vegetation.
According to information from the Land Registry, part of the lot is held by Tenox Development Limited. The directors of the company are Ye Hongde, Yang Meimei and Li Weixian, all of whom are lawyers from Gao Liye Law Firm.
The law firm has a high market share in the registration of first-hand private residential sales and purchase agreements, and has been in the top 5 for many years. It has also represented many developers' new projects, including New World, Wheelock Properties, etc.
Cai Nuozheng, a researcher at the Local Research Institute, pointed out that "invisible brownfields" have no signs of brownfields, but the lands themselves have been destroyed. Even if vegetation is re-vegetated, they can be "revived" and turned back into brownfields at any time.
(Photo by Luo Junhao)
Cai Nuozheng, a researcher at the Local Research Institute, pointed out that "invisible brownfields" have no signs of brownfields, but the lands themselves have been destroyed. Even if vegetation reappears, they can be regenerated at any time in the future.
In addition, some "invisible brownfields" have violation records and rezoning applications in the past. The government should thoroughly review the information of various departments and give priority to processing "invisible brownfields" such as low ecological value or even destroyed land.
They pointed out that many brownfields have roads nearby or are adjacent to development projects. It is recommended that the government develop low-to-medium-density rural public housing according to the characteristics of brownfields; as for some brownfields that cannot be restored, consider the development of resettlement of brownfield operators. Multi-storey building.
Planning Department: 165 hectares of brownfields are not in operation
The Planning Department responded to enquiries that the consultants of the "Brownfields Study" identified a total of about 1,579 hectares of brownfields in rural New Territories during the survey period, including about 165 hectares of brownfields that were not in operation at the time.
During the field investigation, the consultant found that the plot had been re-greened and revegetated. However, the research did not regard the plot as a "brown field".
According to the Planning Department, it has completed an inspection of 450 hectares of brownfield sites outside the new development area with high potential for development, and identified 12 groups of brownfield clusters suitable for public housing development.
The ownership status of individual land, the background and identity of the owner are not the factors that we consider when we look for brownfield clusters for public housing development. Therefore, there is no argument to avoid the land bank of private developers.
The planning direction of the authorities is to gradually integrate brownfield operations into suitable locations with less environmental impact, so as to prevent messy brownfield operations from spreading to unsuitable areas.
The Planning Department stated that if violations are found, evidence will be searched according to the mechanism to take enforcement actions. However, the Planning Department stated that it will not comment on the situation of individual locations.
▼The first stage of research: Eight groups are suitable for the development of public housing brownfield clusters▼
+15
+15
+15
▼Second phase study: Four groups suitable for the development of public housing brownfields▼
+20
+20
+20
Group reveals that part of the government’s leaked 379 hectares of brownfields invaded country parks and advocates regular updates of data
The second stage of the brownfield development of public housing is only 31 hectares, partly close to a conservation area, causing concerns about the environment
Planning Department has completed the second phase of brownfield study of 290 hectares, only 3.8% of the development is expected to build 10,000 units
The government publicly develops the brown map, the largest blue land in the north of Pingshan, and the public housing is built around the cemetery in the north
Government inspects 160 hectares of brownfields and only develops 2.5%. Group: "Delivery-style" responds to public opinion
Developable brownfield clusters are adjacent to private projects, and local research organizations are worried about the loss of control of the “wasteland cattle”
8 groups of buildable public housing brownfields involving large-scale mechanical engineering operators lament the difficulty of relocation
01News
Brownfield Development Bureau Planning Department
