The Government is committed to nurturing Hong Kong's logistics industry, with more than 500 hectares of rural land in the New Territories earmarked for warehousing, Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Michael Suen says.
In a written reply to lawmakers in LegCo today, Mr Suen noted logistics is one of the pillars of the local economy, which accounts for 5.4% of the Gross Domestic Product and employs 198,400 people.

To beef up logistical development, continual efforts have been made to improve the transport network, such as the construction of a new bridge connecting Lok Ma Chau and Huanggang, and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor, which is expected to be rolled out in the first half of next year. The Stonecutters Bridge will be also completed in 2008.

$100 billion spent on infrastructure
In the past four years, more than $100 billion has been spent on transport infrastructure.
Mr Suen noted the Town Planning Board has designated 257 hectares (Category 1) and 260 hectares (Category 2) of rural land in the northwest New Territories as "Open Storage" land, to flexibly meet the logistics industry's warehousing needs.

The board will also consider applications for new open storage and port back-up uses, or extension of existing temporary open storage and port back-up uses in Category 2 areas, subject to a maximum of three years, he added.

 Factors considered in re-zoning
In response to an enquiry on whether more sites will be left for open storage and port back-up uses in the region, Mr Suen said the Planning Department will consider the following factors in making decision:

* Demand for such land use;
* Opportunities brought about by the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor;
* Any potential adverse drainage, traffic, visual, landscape and environmental impacts caused to the surrounding areas by re-zoning proposals; and
* Nearby residents' opinions.

He said the Government will continue to create favourable conditions for the development of the logistics industry.
 

Source: news.gov.hk

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