Some farmland, green belts can be used as car parks as Hong Kong relaxes land guidelines for brownfield sites
- Town Planning Board approves government proposal, which authorities earlier said could free up land for brownfield operators forced to make way for developments
- More than 300 hectares in the New Territories eligible to be turned into brownfield sites upon application
Hong Kong’s town planning authorities have approved a proposal to relax some land use assessment guidelines, effectively allowing more than 300 hectares (741 acres) in the New Territories, including green areas and farmland, to be used as car parks or warehouses.
Following the Town Planning Board’s passage of the government’s amended guidelines on Friday, 24 plots of land were eligible to be turned into brownfield sites for up to three years upon application. They included 16 areas designated as farmland or green belts.
Authorities had earlier said the revision could make more land available for brownfield operators forced to relocate for new town developments.
“Some of these operators wish to continue their businesses and we need to find a way out for them,” said Doris Ho Pui-ling, who is both the permanent secretary for the Development Bureau and the chairwoman of the board.
Brownfield sites refer to rural land which is now occupied by warehouses for industrial use, storage, logistics or parking.
The 24 sites measure 320 hectares in total, which is equivalent to around 17 Victoria Parks. They are located in the Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and North districts, with the largest plot measuring 42.8 hectares at Ping Kong in Sheung Shui.
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According to the government, 185 of the 320 hectares of land were occupied for approved construction projects or by brownfield operators, including some illegally. That means only about 135 hectares will be available for the relocation of brownfield operators, if the board approves their applications.
The government was expected to take back another 200 hectares of brownfield sites by 2026 for development in the New Territories, on top of the existing 30 hectares it has already resumed ownership of, affecting 400 operators.
Brownfield operators facing land resumption have expressed concerns about their future, as the government stated that it would only offer financial compensation, but not the option of relocation.
The operators included logistics companies and manufacturers of ice cubes and sauces.
Under the previous assessment guidelines, authorities were highly unlikely to extend the land use approvals for 66 of the 320 hectares, as they were classified under a category that covered ponds, wetlands, extensive vegetation and areas close to environmentally sensitive zones.
The remaining hectares were classified under the old guidelines as sites that town planners should not consider favourably for brownfield use unless they had been previously approved for that use.
Board member Billy Hau Chi-hang said he had no objection to the amendment in general, but was concerned about operators treating the change as an instant approval for using the sites.
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“The board understands that operators still have to go through application procedures, but the public may not be aware,” Hau said.
“I am worried that the operators will develop the site first and destroy the environment before the application. By that time, it is useless for the board to reject their applications.”
Permanent secretary Ho said the government would make its stance clear on the issue.
“Adding these sites does not mean that the government condones the [illegal] activities,” Ho said.
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The Planning Department said the board could take any unauthorised activities into consideration when they assessed applications, while any offenders could be subject to law enforcement actions.
But local representatives from environmental group Greenpeace said the changes to the guidelines would worsen the already significant sprawl of brownfield sites.
“The government should have eradicated illegal operations and plan brownfield development. But now it encourages destruction of farmland and green belts,” said Chan Hall-sion, the group’s senior campaigner.
She added that 16 out of the 24 sites were areas outlined as farmland or green belts. One of those was a 13 hectare site near Deep Bay Road in Ha Tsuen Fringe that was close to areas designated for a proposed marine park, going against the government’s vision of enhancing wetlands.
The government plans to build multistorey buildings to accommodate brownfield operators in the long term, but the first batch will only be completed in 2027-28.
