HKIP's Comments on the Review on the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531)
Comments on the Review on the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531)
1. From the town planning perspective, the purpose of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (“PHO”) should be to ensure Victoria Harbour would be protected from property development and would be reserved for public enjoyment. The Hong Kong Institute of Planners (“HKIP”) supports in principle amending PHO along two strategic directions:
(1) To strengthen the mechanism for large-scale reclamations;
(2) To facilitate in a reasonable manner small-scale reclamations for harbour enhancement works or non-permanent reclamations which would strengthen the harbour functions and enhance public enjoyment of the harbour with exemption from the “overriding public need” test.
2. While there is no explanation in the current PHO on the procedure and timeframe of how “overriding public need” test is assessed and no requirement for public participation, we consider that it is necessary to provide a clear mechanism in the review of PHO. We propose that reclamation proponent should submit the reclamation proposal and all relevant assessments to Town Planning Board (“TPB”) to review, together with a reasonable public engagement process for the public to inspect and comment on the proposal. We suggest all project proponents should prepare and submit landscape and visual impact assessments to ensure the marine landscape is not subject to excessive adverse impact and quality views of/from both sides of the Victoria Harbour are preserved. TPB being an effective statutory body in Hong Kong overseeing the preparation of/amendment to land use plans and considering applications for planning permissions in a fair, open and just manner, should play a role in assessing whether the “overriding public need” test is satisfied, before submitting to Chief Executive-in-Council for approval.
3. For specific harbour enhancement works such as promenade, boardwalk, landing steps, etc. especially those which could provide more opportunities for public enjoyment of the harbour, we support providing a special arrangement for exemption from the “overriding public need” test.
4. We also support allowing special arrangements for exemption from the “overriding public need” test for non-permanent reclamations with a reasonable scale and timeframe. However, the time limit as well as its renewal mechanism would need to be carefully defined to avoid system abuse resulting in a permanent reclamation.
Public Affairs Committee
The Hong Kong Institute of Planners
29 Aug 2023
對修訂《海港保護條例》（第531章）的意見
從城市規劃的角度而言，《海港保護條例》（以下簡稱《條例》）的目的應是保護維多利亞港（維港）免被填作房地產發展，並保留海港讓市民享用。香港規劃師學會（學會）原則上支持從下列兩個策略方向對《條例》進行修訂：
（1）加強規範大規模填海工程的機制；
（2）透過豁免「凌駕性公眾需要」測試，合理地促進較小規模的填海工程，以進行海港改善工程或非永久性填海工程，以達至加強海港功能和提高市民享受海港機會。
目前《條例》中並未對「凌駕性公眾需要」測試的評估程序和所需時間進行解釋，亦沒有公眾參與程序的要求，因此我們認為必須要在《條例》的修訂中確立更清晰的機制及程序。我們建議填海工程的項目倡議者應向城市規劃委員會（城規會）提交填海工程方案及所有相關的評估報告，並透過進行合理的公眾參與過程，讓市民檢閱相關文件和提供意見。我們建議填海工程項目倡議者應擬備及提交景觀和視覺影響評估，以確保海洋景觀不受過度的負面影響，以及保護維港兩岸的優質景觀和從兩岸觀海的視野。作為一個有效，並以公開、公平、公正方式監察土地用途規劃圖則的擬備及考慮有關規劃許可的法定機構，我們認為城規會適合在呈交填海工程方案予行政長官會同行政會議作審批前，作為評估方案可否滿足「凌駕性公眾需要」測試的機構。
我們支持為指定的海港改善工程，尤其那些可提高市民享受海港機會的工程，如海濱長廊、行人板道、登岸台階等，安排特別簡化程序，豁免「凌駕性公眾需要」測試。
對於擁有合理規模和工程時間的非永久性填海工程，我們亦支持安排豁免「凌駕性公眾需要」測試的特別簡化程序。然而，當中必須仔細確定工程時期的限制及訂明有關續期機制，以避免機制遭受濫用而出現永久性填海的情況。
香港規劃師學會公共事務委員會
2023年8月29日