The new government proposes to build "simple public housing" to solve the short-term shortage of public housing supply, hoping to help subdivided housing tenants improve their environment, but the cost estimation has sparked controversy. Recently, even site selection has become another "battlefield."
After the 8 sites were announced, 10,800 units were proposed to be built on Kai Tak World Fortune Road. Many residents of the private buildings in the area reported that they did not conform to the district planning. District councilors also questioned whether they would be "returned" to the original purpose after the end of the residence period.
The government advocated the concept of "Activating Kowloon East" more than ten years ago. The goal is to form a second central business district (CBD) in the Kowloon East area after the Central District. At the same time, it also includes the Kai Tak Development Area, and mentions the proposed construction of an elevated monorail The transportation system, "Leaping Kai Tak", etc. However, after several government changes, some projects were either shelved or "lost", which may be the source of dissatisfaction among residents in the area.
▼Simple public housing Kai Tak Kai Tak site selection▼
Former Chief Executive Donald Tsang put forward the concept of "activating Kowloon East" in his "Policy Address" in 2011/12. At that time, he described it as follows:
"Kowloon East has great potential to transform into a prime business district, adding another 4 million square meters of office floor space. Kowloon East includes the new Kai Tak Development Area, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay. The strategies being prepared by the government include: (1) Strengthen the connection within the district of Kowloon East, including improving the pedestrian passage network, and consider using an environmental protection connection system to connect the whole district, and strengthen the external connection through the MTR Kwun Tong Line and the future Shazhong Link. (2) Formulate rich Attractive urban design concept and green environment, develop a pedestrian-accessible seaside promenade, and create a comfortable and pleasant business district. (3) Initiatives include diversified development of culture, leisure, and water sports to inject vitality into the business district. The government also We will move the government office buildings to Kai Tak and release the land for government facilities for commercial development. The Development Bureau will allocate additional manpower to promote the development of Kowloon East. To promote the transformation of Kowloon East, we need a forward-looking vision and determination to implement .” Former Chief Executive Donald Tsang
However, after several changes in the government, many projects have "disappeared". The biggest controversy is the "environmentally friendly connection system". At that time, the government preferred to use the elevated monorail mode to connect Kwun Tong to Kai Tak. In the walking area, the alignment and station location have been changed many times.
At that time, folk voices focused on the rate of return of the monorail was less than 1%, and the viaduct crossed the Kwun Tong waterfront, which made the typhoon shelter "useless", and there may not be space to connect to the Kwun Tong MTR station, but the monorail concept has long been a part of the Kai Tak area. One of the selling points of many private building projects.
However, after the current government took office, it finally announced that the project was aborted. It only stated that it would
"study the establishment of a new transportation hub, provide charging facilities for electric buses/minibuses, set up air-conditioned passenger waiting areas, real-time information display screens, driver's lounges and Restrooms and other facilities improve convenience and comfort.”
However, the government has indeed relocated some political and political departments to the Kai Tak Development Area, such as the Trade and Industry Building, the Revenue Tower, etc., and has indeed fulfilled its promise to gradually promote the development of the Kwun Tong Waterfront The promenade improvement project has also become a "check-in point" for citizens.
▼On January 30, the simple public housing demonstration unit was exposed▼
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The land around the runway park at the end of the runway of Kai Tak Airport was originally proposed by the government for the "Flying Kai Tak" project. A design competition was held for this purpose, and it was
finally finalized as a "tourism hub site" for the development of commercial, hotel and entertainment facilities in the future.
However, in response to the epidemic, the government requisitioned the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the runway park opposite it, and converted it into a temporary care center for the elderly and a community isolation facility, which was described by the outside world as "an isolation facility with a sea view".
The Housing Bureau also stated that it is open to whether the community isolation facilities will be converted into "simple public housing". Meet" is still unknown.
Many private housing residents in Kai Tak pointed out that no matter the simple public housing or the community isolation facilities, they are incompatible with the planning of the area.
Check the Kai Tak Development Plan Outline. Although there have been many changes, such as changing the hotel land in the runway area to building houses, and rezoning the land for private buildings in the northern part of the old apron area to public housing, etc., the overall development has not been considered unbalanced. , because the Kai Tak Development Area is not limited to private housing development. Public housing such as Kai Ching Estate and Tak Long Estate have already been planned. To solve the poor environment of subdivided flats, the site selection is because the government has not sold the land for commercial use, and it is understandable to meet the goal of simple public housing in the urban area.
However, it has been more than 20 years since the Kai Tak Development Area was emptied of the airport for operation in 1998. The development progress cannot be described as fast, and the planning intention has been changed repeatedly. The most eye-catching sports park in the city was once involved in the vortex of "forced relocation". The government's indecision over the years and the inconsistent will of previous governments have always been the most dissatisfied among the bourgeoisie.