Golf course housing plan 'undetermined' for now
The Town Planning Board on Monday decided to temporarily revise part of a plan to build public housing at the Fanling Golf Course. The decision came days after the Hong Kong Golf Club applied for a judicial review of the environmental impact assessment of the public housing scheme. But the board said the club's challenge did not affect its progress in advancing the statutory planning process. The board revised the use of 9.5 hectares of land originally earmarked for housing to "undetermined use" – to allow the Civil Engineering and Development Department to re-examine the design layout, building height, and development density of public housing. The use of the remaining 22 hectares of land will remain unchanged and designated for conservation and recreation. The board said the decision was made after considering 6,787 written submissions, 51 comments and five public hearings, as well as the views and responses of the Planning Department and other related government departments. It added that proposed changes to the "undetermined use" will be put forward on August 4 – and the public can then submit their opinions for the next three weeks. It said the board will review the opinions and send the draft plan to the Chief Executive in Council for approval. The Hong Kong Golf Club said it is aware of the decision and expressed its deepest regret. The club reiterated its disagreement with using part of its historic Old Course for housing and said it will continue to go all out to ensure that the integrity of the course is not damaged.