A proposal would divide the waterfront land earmarked for the West Kowloon Cultural District into three zones, with height restrictions of 50 metres, 70 metres and 100 metres, a Town Planning Board document revealed yesterday.
The building restrictions have been imposed partly to preserve the continuing ridgeline of Lion Rock and the view of neighbouring hills from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park in Sheung Wan and the Star Ferry Pier in Central.
According to a proposal by the Planning Department, the tallest buildings of 100 metres - about 30 storeys - at most can be erected at the tip of the headland. A maximum height of 70 metres is set for the area east of the site - bounded by the Austin Road West and Canton Road - while 50 metres is imposed for the remaining piece of land to the northwest of the site, which is closer to the New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter.
The Planning Department said the arrangement was designed to avoid a wall effect and enhance the view from the harbour.
Kim Chan Kim-on, vice-president of the Institute of Planners, said the gradation of height should descend from the hinterland on the east to the headland. 'The lowest buildings should be found at the headland, but now it is zoned for the tallest buildings,' he said, adding that the 100 metre area was most likely where residential areas are located.
He also said the division of zones was strange as it did not seem to fit the neighbourhood.