The majority of Town Planning Board members support a plan to build public housing on part of Hong Kong’s Fanling golf course, the government said on Monday, despite a legal challenge to the controversial development plan.
The Board adopted the government’s suggestion to temporarily amend the zoning of the 9.5 hectares set side for housing, which includes three holes of the Old Course, to “undetermined.”
The decision on Monday will allow the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) to review the public housing plan, including the layout design, building height and development density, in light of environmental objections to the original housing plan for 12,000 flats.
The Hong Kong Golf Club course covers 172 hectares which is leased from the government. Authorities plan to take back a section covering 32 hectares – 9.5 hectares for housing and the rest for conservation and recreation – on September 1 after the club’s private recreational lease expires.
The club is fighting the plan and last Friday sought permission for a judicial review of the actions of the Director of Environmental Protection. It is challenging an environmental impact assessment report which concluded that around eight hectares of the gold course was suitable for housing.
Judicial reviews are considered by the Court of First Instance and examine the decision-making processes of administrative bodies. Issues under review must be shown to affect the wider public interest.
The Environmental Protection Department in May gave conditional approval to the plan to build subsidised housing for 33,600 residents on the 9.5-hectare plot, after the CEDD was told to provide additional information.
The golf club is contesting the department’s decision to approve the environmental impact assessment report. It says it acted beyond its powers as it did not “first permit/invite public comment” on the further information provided by the CEDD.
The decision was also “flawed” because the department did not consider the golf club’s response to the additional information.
The Town Planning Board said on Monday the golf club’s legal would not prevent the board “proceeding with the statutory planning procedures.”
“Majority of Members agreed that the 9.5 [hectares] of land was suitable for public housing development” which would be “compatible” with surrounding areas, according to a government statement on Monday read.
The Court of First Instance granted the golf club’s application on Tuesday, and ordered a temporary suspension of the Environmental Protection Department decision. A hearing has been set in mid-August to determine the suspension of the decision.
The government says that the club will still be able to stage tournaments on the remainder of the golf course and that finding land for public housing is urgent.
Chief Executive John Lee told reporters on Monday during a trip to Singapore that he “will make no more comment” since the judicial process had begun.
“I respect the judicial proceeding, but it doesn’t affect out plan to take back those pieces of land that we have announced that we will take back,” said Lee.
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