In July this year, the University of Hong Kong applied to the Town Planning Board for the rezoning of a green area on Sassoon Road and used the site for the construction of a new teaching building to cope with the annual increase in medical bachelor's places in the future.
However, some district councillors think that the University of Hong Kong has not provided other site selection and open selection criteria are unreasonable, and some engineers think that the site is located on a slope, and there are many difficulties in constructing teaching buildings, such as traffic and building structures that need to be dealt with. It may increase the cost of the project and delay the construction period by at least three years.
Photography: Cai Zhengbang, Zeng Fengting
According to a document submitted by the University of Hong Kong to the Town Planning Board, the new teaching building will have 4 buildings, covering an area of approximately 17,000 square meters and a total floor area of approximately 40,000 square meters.
Among them, the tallest building is 9-storey, with teaching facilities, teaching laboratories, research laboratories, offices and storage space in the building.
The new teaching building will have 4 buildings with an area of approximately 17,000 square meters and a total floor area of approximately 40,000 square meters.
(Documents for the Briefing Session of the University of Hong Kong)
The new teaching building is located at the east of No. 3 Sassoon Road, from the bus stop of Queen Mary Hospital to a green area next to the Xinguang Blind Home and School.
The Hong Kong 01 reporter earlier visited the site with the district councilor Sima Wen and structural engineer Ronald Taylor.
Sima Wen recalled that the relevant rezoning matters were first raised in the district council. He said that because of the Hong Kong University's contribution to fighting the SARS and new crown pneumonia epidemics, many citizens are proud of the University of Hong Kong and expressed support for their need to build a new medical school building. .
Over 800 citizens co-signed against the project
However, in June this year, the University of Hong Kong held a briefing session with residents on the rezoning of land. At the meeting, residents learned that the building was not only used for teaching purposes, but most of the area was used as a laboratory. Some residents said that the University of Hong Kong was unable to Dispel their doubts, including laboratory leaks that residents are most concerned about.
As of the expiration of the consultation period of the Town Planning Board (August 20 this year), more than 800 citizens participated in the online co-signature to oppose the construction of a teaching building in the green belt of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong.
Sima Wen is dissatisfied that the University of Hong Kong has not provided and disclosed any other suitable sites. "The University of Hong Kong only said that this place (green area) is the best place, but they did not show any analysis, nor did they mention that they had reviewed other places. "Research", I think the University of Hong Kong is very selfish in doing so.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Sima Wen is dissatisfied that the University of Hong Kong has not provided and disclosed any other suitable sites. "The University of Hong Kong only said that this place (green area) is the best place, but they did not show any analysis, nor did they mention that they had reviewed other places. "Research", thinks that the University of Hong Kong is very selfish, "If you want to build a large laboratory, why not study more places? Then give a few options, and then show the relevant project cost, environmental impact, finance, technology and other factors , Let the city planning have a choice. Because this is public money, not the money of the University of Hong Kong."
Sima Wen thinks that it is difficult to build a new building at the upper site. "You see these stones, there are underground waterways, and they are very steep, so it will be very expensive to build (buildings) here."
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
MTR abandoned the construction of Queen Mary Hospital Station due to complicated location
Sima Wen believes that there are certain difficulties in building a new building on the upper site. "You see these stones, there are underground waterways, and they are very steep, so it will be very expensive to build (buildings) here."
Most of the green areas are located on steep slopes. He mentioned that the MTR had studied the construction of the entrance and exit of the MTR Queen Mary Hospital Station at the same location. However, after research, it was found that the location was too complicated and he finally decided to find another location.
After seeing the land vacated, the University of Hong Kong immediately applied for the site of the new teaching building for the medical school.
Sima Wen also believes that the location of the new building is too close to the residential buildings, and the residents will be affected to varying degrees before and after the project, such as residential landscape, air and traffic problems.
Sima Wen believes that the University of Hong Kong should first consider and study other feasible locations. For example, the Bai Wenxin Building held by the University of Hong Kong is close to the Queen Mary Hospital and does not need to be rezoned through the Town Planning Board.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Sima Wen believes that the University of Hong Kong should first consider and study other feasible locations. For example, the Bai Wenxin Building held by the University of Hong Kong is adjacent to the Queen Mary Hospital and does not need to be rezoned through the Town Planning Board. "The University of Hong Kong has multiple properties on Sassoon Road. Buildings are easier to carry out reconstruction works, and it is better than using green belt land," which can also reduce the impact on nearby residents.
Sima Wen believes that the University of Hong Kong should first consider and study other feasible locations. For example, the Bai Wenxin Building held by the University of Hong Kong is close to the Queen Mary Hospital and does not need to be rezoned through the Town Planning Board.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Engineers proposed to build new building on slope: structural safety is in doubt
Structural engineer Ronald Taylor is also concerned about HKU's plan to build a new building on a green area.
He believes that the site of the University of Hong Kong is located on a slope, and all engineering costs and construction difficulties will double.
According to the pictures of simulated buildings provided by the Hong Kong University Advisory Council, Ronald described the entire building as if it was inserted from the sky, which is unrealistic. The simulated pictures can also show that the building is supported by only four pillars. He is worried that it will affect the load-bearing situation of the building. Then the structure is unstable.
It takes at least three years to build a new bypass for the site selection and lack of engineering transportation roads
Ronald said that after an on-site inspection, it was found that there was no flat ground nearby to park heavy engineering vehicles and there was a lack of corresponding transportation roads.
Ronald pointed out that there are only three roads in the vicinity that can enter the site, including Pokfulam Road, Victoria Road and Lo Phu Quoc Road, but these roads have different problems.
He explained that Pokfulam Road is the main traffic arterial road in the area. It is already very busy and can no longer carry engineering vehicles. The Victoria Road is narrow and there is only one round-trip line each. I believe there is not enough space for heavy engineering vehicles to enter and exit; and Luo Although Phu Quoc Trail is a two-lane route, the road is narrow and the road is relatively slanted. Many students will walk out of the road to go home after school. If a large engineering vehicle passes by, it may cause danger.
Excluding the expensive cost of building a building on the site, Ronald believes that to solve the problem of road transportation for construction vehicles, a new bypass must be built on Victoria Road, so that construction vehicles can have an independent road to the site and solve their access. And parking problems.
However, if a new road needs to be built, Ronald estimates that it will take at least three years to complete, and the construction of the new building will need to be completed after the new road is completed, which means that the entire project will be delayed and cannot be completed within the expected time of the University of Hong Kong.
Therefore, he suggested that the University of Hong Kong should choose to rebuild or rebuild other existing buildings or older sites nearby, which can reduce the cost and difficulty of the project.
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