Development Bureau releases land use plan for 627-hectare San Tin Technopole
The Development Bureau has proposed accepting bids from eligible enterprises only or directly granting lands to specific firms for the development of the 627-hectare San Tin Technopole, in a bid to ensure the lands match the industrial development policy.
According to papers submitted to the Legislative Council, the San Tin Technopole will comprise of the Innovation and Technology Zone and the San Tin Town Center.
The I&T Zone together with the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone in the Lok Ma Chau Loop will provide a total of 300 hectares of land for innovation and technology development.
With a total floor area of 7 million square meters, the size of the I&T Zone equals to 17 Hong Kong Science Parks. It also matches with the 300-hectare Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Zone opposite the Shenzhen River.
As for the San Tin Town Center, the bureau suggested reserving about 60 hectares of land for housing and mixed use including offices, hotels, retail, entertainment facilities and transportation. Its construction will center around the San Tin MTR Station of the Northern Link.
The town will be providing about 50,000 public housing units and private homes starting 2031 as well, with most flats being built within the 500-meter perimeter of the train station. The ratio of public homes to private homes will be seven to three.
The bureau expected the whole San Tin Technopole to house a population ranging between 147,000 and 159,000.
Site formation works are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of next year and to finish in 2026.
The bureau also estimated over 165,000 jobs can be created by the I&T Zone and the town center together.
The bureau proposed the idea of the Talent Apartment as well, offering some 6,400 units to house about 10 percent of I&T staffers in the Technopole.