HKIP PAC's comment on Urban Design Guideline
The Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP)
Public Affairs Committee
Comments on the Draft Revised Urban Design Guidelines (UDG)
General
HKIP appreciates the Government’s effort in restructuring and reformatting the current UDG (2015 edition) with a purpose to making it a more adaptable, user-friendly set of best practice guidelines applicable to the specific context of Hong Kong. We support the new revised edition to take forward the design-related recommendations in particular those in connection with climate mitigation, adaptation, liveability and sustainability, as set out in Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030.
We appreciate the people-oriented urban design vision highlighted in this revised UDG. We always support that it is important to have a revamped UDG that sets out good urban design principles and guidelines applicable for projects of different nature and scale with due regard to Hong Kong’s macro environmental context as well as the local historical and socio-economic contexts. The ultimate aim of design excellence is to meet changing societal aspirations and to achieve a liveable and life-flourishing built environment for the well-being of HK people.
We take this updating exercise of the UDG as a collaborative thinking process for the industry, the community and the Government to advance design excellence of our city together. HKIP has the following views for your consideration.
Overall Approach
We do need a framework to guide the urban design strategy / plan through to implementation on ground.
(a) Urban Design Context
The UDG should set out and elaborate the unique urban design context of Hong Kong with some specific attributes, which will be elaborated below. Once the urban design context has been set out, the UDG should document the system and the procedures on how to pursue the formulation, implementation and monitoring urban design plans and proposals.
(b) A Proper System for Our UDG
Different levels of urban design strategy / plans / proposals should be introduced, including territorial, town, district, area and project level (where applicable). The role of each system player should also be set out, such as the role of the Government, private sector, Town Planning Board, urban design panel, etc.
(c) Procedures Involved
Public engagement is an important element in the urban design process. The UDG should also set out the downstream procedure on the approval of the urban design plans, control and implementation process.
With the above suggested overall approach, HKIP has the following elaborated comments and suggestions:
Detailed Comments
1. Successful Implementation is the Key
UDG as Chapter 11 of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines is not statutory. The all along objective as a best practice guide, with no enforcement mechanism, for encouraging a thinking process for achieving responsive design excellence in the planning and development process is not fool proof and is no longer able to meet societal aspirations.
We find it important to strengthen, expand and consolidate the existing development control tools. We highly recommend that the Urban Design Strategies / Plans of New Towns, New Development Areas, and other significant areas / sites be prepared with public engagement, be approved by the relevant authorities, and ultimately be reflected in OZPs (with appropriate details) and incorporated into lease conditions (for land sale and lease modifications).
For sites of specific significance or public interest (within or beyond the above-mentioned Urban Design Strategies / Plans), we suggest designating such areas as Special Design Areas. A Special Design Area may cover government development sites, private sites, public realm and local open spaces as a whole. More detailed Urban Design Manuals should be prepared in consultation with the public particularly the local communities with a view to building community ownership. The revised UDG could devise major principles and key attributes for designation of Special Design Areas.
Urban Design Panels could be set up to provide expert urban design inputs when development plans (public or private) within the Special Design Areas are processed. The Panel members should make reference to the Urban Design Manuals for the Special Design Area and they could consider alternatives which would not undermine or even enhance the original intentions. For private developments, Lands Department could take advice from this Panel before approving or rejecting the development plans under DDH Clause.
We trust that the Government as well as public authorities would take the lead to follow through these design guidelines in their projects. In addition, the Government should explore means and incentives to facilitate and encourage the private sector to advance design excellence.
2. Importance of an In-depth Urban Design Context
The UDG should serve as a set of unique guidelines to suit the specific urban design context in Hong Kong. Some essential elaborations on the context is considered necessary for clear understanding by the readers. Reference should not be just generally on Victoria Harbour and its mountain setting. There should also be specific contexts for the historic precincts in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei, as well as new towns / district centres, and identified new development areas, etc., taking due account of their topographical, historical, social, economic and architectural context.
There are districts and streets with special characters such as those around the Hollywood Road in Central; Fabric Street Market, computers and electronics streets in Sham Shui Po; Des Voeux Road in Sheung Wan; and New Central Harbourfront. We also have our unique topographies of Lantau Peak, Sunset Peak, Lion Rock, Ma On Shan, Tai Mo Shan, Pat Sin Leng. The traditional communities in the rural areas may deserve special urban design consideration in new development areas. The above are just examples we would suggest to be covered in the UDG. This will provide a better understanding of HK’s unique context for the readers.
3. Healthy City
It is now a global consensus that the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have challenged the planning and development professionals to review how to secure the development of healthy cities. The revamp of UDG is timely to include additional guidelines or elaborate on existing guidelines on how they could improve the health and wellness aspects of our people and make our city more resilient to fight against future health hazards as well as to proactively promote a healthy city life.
4. Inclusive Design for the Elderly
Hong Kong’s population is aging fast. In the revised UDG, it is essential to pay extra attention to provide inclusive design for the elderly. While we are proud to have 40% of our territory under Country Parks, we must not forget that decreasing mobility of the elderly deters them from enjoying the countryside. We do need to bring elements of nature back into the urban areas, with adequate lighting provision and with easy to understand signages for the convenience of the elderly.
5. Interface with Harbour Planning Principles and Guidelines
The existing Harbour Planning Principles and Guidelines is now a separate design manual under the ambit of the Harbourfront Commission (HC). It is an important and effective urban design tool for the planning, preservation, development and management of Victoria Harbour and its harbourfront areas. For instance, the HC has prepared a plan of different functional zones along the harbourfront, the opportunity of this exercise should be taken to also include the above which is an important attribute to the urban design of the harboufront. As such, we suggest that consideration be given to review and to integrate the Harbour Planning Principles and Guidelines into the revised UDG.
6. Urban Climatic Map (UCM)
In compact cities like Hong Kong with a high density living, it is important to also consider the different urban climatic characteristics when designing our city. Noting this newly revised edition has taken forward the recommendations in connection with climate mitigation and sustainability; yet UCM is an important sustainable design element. It is suggested to take the opportunity of this revamp exercise to elaborate on UCM when designing our city with some form of performance indicators.
For instance, by dividing the Hong Kong territory into different urban climatic planning zones according to different urban climatic characteristics and planning implications, they serve as good guidance and reference for planners with the aim of mitigating the current negative situation and protecting the positive situation. The above can then guide readers on how the AVA can improve the air ventilation situation in areas that need to be opened up as breezeway / air paths, etc.
Public Affairs Committee
The Hong Kong Institute of Planners
September 2020