Development chief welcomes approval of San Tin plan

Development Minister Bernadette Linn has welcomed the decision by city planners to approve the zoning plans for San Tin Technopole. The project involves the construction of an information and technology centre in an area where there are now fishponds.

Linn said the government is now looking for ways to speed up the development process.

The city council gave its approval on Friday, saying the decision was made after considering the views of various stakeholder groups, government responses and hours of internal discussions.

According to the organization, the majority of members agree that the technopole is of strategic importance for the development of the SAR’s technology sector, given its proximity to Shenzhen’s IT zone.

Linn said on a radio program Saturday that the board could possibly speed up the work by selling plots of land at the same time as the land formation.

“Why is it beneficial if we can sell the land while the land development is going on? The developers who buy the land can start building plans right away. That way, everyone doesn’t have to wait for each other,” she said.

She added that the board will submit a request for funding to the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee. If land development can begin before the end of this year, the first batch of formed land could be ready in 2026, the spokesperson said.

Asked what conservation work would be carried out, given that the development plan calls for the restoration of some 90 hectares of fishponds, Linn said the impact is less than it seems. More than half of the affected fishponds have already been abandoned, he said.

The Development Minister reiterated that the government will fulfill its promise and build a 338-hectare wetland protection park next to the technology center as compensation.

Science Park also welcomed the Town Planning Board’s decision. According to the park, the technology center will provide additional space for research and collaboration between Hong Kong and the rest of the Greater Bay Area.