Govt proposes to alter land zone on golf course as "undetermined” to provide buffer for housing design adjustment

The Planning Department proposed to alter the land for a public housing development plan on the Fanling Golf Course as an “undetermined” zone on Monday, while the government stressed the revision was only to provide a buffer period for relevant authorities to adjust the development layout.

An environmental impact assessment report on the public housing development plan of the site was conditionally approved last month, of which about nine hectares of the land will be used to develop 12,000 public housing units.

But the Planning Department on Monday proposed to temporarily revise the relevant land as an “undetermined” zone from the previously stated “Residential (Group A)”.

The Development Bureau said it supports the decision as the government has to adjust and review the housing design layouts according to the assessment report and provide professional and objective opinions to the Town Planning Board.

“Although the land has been revised as an ‘undetermined use’, the draft of the development plan of the area still states the government’s intention to develop public housing there,” it said.

The bureau added that the revision only provides a buffer period for the Civil Engineering and Development Building and other relevant departments to adjust the development layout and other parameters.

It admitted that the change would inevitably affect the scale and timetable of the proposed public housing development. 

It also stressed that the government will take back the 32 hectares of land on September 1 as planned, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will take over the management and maintenance work of the land.

The Hong Kong Golf Club said it needs time to study the relevant documents.

The club is ready to host the Aramco golf tournament in October – though the government planned to take back part of the land from the golf course - and has also been shortlisted for hosting the Liv Golf matches early next year.