Oct 15 2009
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Hong Kong supports the newly announced policies in relation to revitalization of industrial buildings and conservation of Central heritage to create refreshing breathing zone among the business area.
RICS International Governing Council member, Mr. David Tse, said, "We have conducted a very thorough research on adaptive reuse of obsolete industrial buildings in June last year, and have advised related Government departments with pragmatic suggestions. We urge the Government to scale up co-operation within governmental departments and bring forth inducement and effective solutions for redeveloping and revitalizing industrial buildings. RICS is delighted to see our suggestions being accepted and adopted by the Government. We sincerely hope we can further assist the Government to support development of the six key industries through redeveloping and revitalizing the existing industrial buildings in the near future."
Mr. Albert So, Chairman of RICS Hong Kong, said, "RICS supports the policy of conserving the Central Market as a key element of the Central cultural cluster. However, we should not oversee the rising demand for office buildings in Central. RICS will continue to study and examine the feasibility of maintaining the heritage value and mixed use of the building for offices, stores and workshops at the same time. We believe this can increase both the community and commercial values of the Central Market."
About revitalizing industrial buildings
Mr. Donald Tsang has revealed plans to promote the development of 6 pillar industries, including revitalizing the 1,400 industrial buildings in Hong Kong, providing more space for parties that are interested in the development of the pillar industries. Development Opportunity Office, under Development Bureau, will receive and handle all the applications, while Lands Department will evaluate and amend any irrational regulation and limitation in granting the conversion of industrial buildings to office buildings. Hong Kong's economy is evolving which results in high vacancy in the industrial buildings. If the Government could simplify the process of converting industrial buildings to office buildings, tremendous space could be released.
There is approximately 15.57 million sq.m. of flatted factory space with over 20 years old in Hong Kong today, and another 7 million sq. m. of private storage, private specialized factories and private industrial space. As at the end of 2007, some 1.07 million sq. m. of such accommodation was standing vacant, whilst the rest are mostly under-utilized or used for purposes which are outside the conditions of their land leases or planning approval.
RICS has put forward a research report, along with recommendations, in the related issue to the Government in June 2008. Discussion has been continued among members of RICS, hoping to come up with ideas that will assist the Government in adopting the most pragmatic policies to revitalize industrial buildings for creative industry development. RICS has further suggestions as follows:
- We suggest Planning Department to flexibly loosen its restriction of non industrial land use in industrial buildings.
- We propose the Government to provide financial support to applicants. Applicants within in the category of the pillar industries will be able to hire professional consultants, like chartered surveyors and architects, to help proprietor to apply design and use of industrial buildings in a proper and safety manner, in order to encourage different potential industries to use the space in industrial buildings.
About reserving the Central Market
Improving the city's environment is one of the focuses of the Policy Address. Mr. Donald Tsang has announced to remove the Central Market from the Application List. Central Market has been removed from the Application List, as announced by Mr. Donald Tsang, and will be developed as the "lung" of central. Central Market will be linked with Central Police Station Compound to from a "cultural cluster", to reduce valley and heat island effect. The development height in the landfill across International Finance Centre will be downsized. Linking IFC and the new Government headquarters, a waterfront promenade will be formed to improve the environment of Central, shaping it to the core region of the city, just like the Fisherman's Wharf in Sydney.
Besides the Central Market, the Policy Address also highlighted the reservations of the Central Ferry Piers site, the original site of the Central School, Central Police Station Compound, Central Government Offices, Murray Building and Court of Final Appeal. By embracing the historical and environmental value, despite pushing forward the development of our economy, the Government has placed importance in reserving heritage and developing quality space.
Mr. So continued, "RICS supports the policy to develop the cultural industry as assets for Hong Kong. As one of the professional parties in the market, we will continue to advise the Government on policies that will answer the request of reservation and environmental protection, as well as preserving the precious cultural assets in Hong Kong."
Source: http://www.ricsasia.org/