Government seeks HK$8.8 billion for Tseung Kwan O reclamation

Summary

Key Points

• The Area 132 scheme involves about 20 hectares of reclamation for five waterfront-dependent public facilities, plus a 3.8-hectare Tiu Keng Leng Park and upgraded footpaths and trails to Lei Yue Mun1
• Authorities plan to strengthen soft marine mud with deep cement mixing before seawall foundation and reclamation works begin, using designs aligned with the latest harbour engineering manual for extreme weather resilience1
• A roughly 1.2-kilometre ecologically enhanced seawall is planned along the new shoreline, including about 900 metres of vertical seawall for future marine transport and the rest in sloping form1
• The proposed marine viaduct and related roads would let vehicles serving the new facilities reach Kowloon via Tseung Lam Highway without entering Tseung Kwan O's existing road network.12
• Area 137 currently covers about 80 hectares and is mainly used as a temporary fill bank; with about 20 hectares of reclamation and formed land at Fat Tong Chau, it would provide about 103 hectares1
• The Area 132 package also includes sewage, drainage and water supply works, including a sewage pumping station, about 2.4 kilometres of sewers, about 700 metres of drains, about 300 metres of box culvert, and about 2.2 kilometres of fresh and flushing water mains.1 According to the government paper, Area 137 is intended as an extension of the Tseung Kwan O New Town, with a target capacity of about 50,000 housing units and related facilities for 135,000 residents.1 Under the latest timetable, the first residents could move in as early as 20311
• Fong said she had earlier criticised the Area 132 construction cost as too high when the plan was discussed by the development panel, noting that an earlier figure was about HK$7.64 billion and the latest estimate had been reduced to about HK$6.95 billion.2 She said the current rough reclamation unit cost was about HK$380 per square metre, lower than previous levels of about HK$420 to HK$470, and suggested the lower cost might be linked to the project's proximity to the Tseung Kwan O fill bank.2 She added that she would continue pressing the government to break down the works prices in greater detail2
• Chong said the funding covers reclamation, the marine viaduct and several infrastructure items long sought by residents and her party, and argued that the works would improve transport and expand open space.2 She said the direct connection to Tseung Lam Highway was a necessary way to prevent traffic from the new district from being forced into Tseung Kwan O's already saturated road network.2 She also said the government should consult nearby housing estates and residents again over the viaduct alignment, and that the structure should not be built too close to homes2
• On timing, the government plans to start detailed design for Area 137 after Finance Committee funding approval and complete it in 2028, with tenders for phase-one site formation and infrastructure works planned for next year.1 Those works are expected to be completed progressively from 2029.1 For Area 132, tendering for reclamation, site formation, the marine viaduct and related works has already been completed, and contracts would be awarded only after funding approval.1 The government aims to hand over land from 2029 onward, with Tiu Keng Leng Park potentially completed in 2030, footpaths and trails to Lei Yue Mun delivered progressively from 2029, and the overall Area 137 phase-one and Area 132 works completed in stages within 20321

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