The government yesterday briefed the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) Follow-up Committee for Lands and Public Concession Affairs about its latest progress in using 39 available plots across the city for various temporary purposes.
In January this year, the government announced details of its plan to use the 39 plots.
According to January’s announcement, the 39 plots comprised 13 for recreational and leisure purposes, 15 open-air public carparks, three recycling facilities, four sports facilities, and four for other purposes.
In a closed-door meeting yesterday, the government briefed the committee about the latest progress of its ongoing plan to convert these available plots into various facilities to be operated on a temporary basis.
Lawmaker-cum-unionist Ella Lei Cheng I, who chairs the committee, briefed reporters about the meeting, which was attended by officials including Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam Vai Man, Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) Director Lai Weng Leong, and Public Works Bureau (DSOP) Deputy Director Sam Weng Chon.
According to Lei, officials told the committee that the government will constantly adjust the use of some plots in line with opinions gathered from residents in the respective districts.
Lei quoted the officials as saying that among the 39 plots, seven projects have been completed—with some already in use, while the remainder will soon open to the public. The seven plots comprise five open-air public carparks, one sports facility, and one for other purposes: an electric vehicle (EV) charging station equipped with super-fast charging piles in Cotai.
The government has yet to announce the exact opening date of the EV charging station.
The other 32 plots fall into the following categories:
Projects currently underway;
Projects for which tenders have been launched;
Projects currently in the design phase.
Following the government’s slight adjustments to its original plan, according to Lei, the 32 plots now comprise 13 for recreational and leisure purposes, 10 open-air public carparks, two recycling facilities, four sports facilities, and three for other purposes.
Lawmaker-cum-unionist Ella Lei Cheng I (right), who chairs the legislature’s Follow-up Committee for Lands and Public Concession Affairs, and legislator-cum-scholar Joey Lao Chi Ngai, the committee’s secretary, look on during yesterday’s media briefing. – Photo: Tony Wong
