bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Peace Chiu

A controversial plan by New World Development to build a private residential development in Wang Chau has been rejected by the Town Planning Board, with members citing traffic concerns.
During a meeting of the board on Friday, it was also revealed the developer dropped engineering giant Arup as its consultant. The move came after Arup – also hired by the government for a public housing project in Wang Chau – was accused of illegally leaking confidential governmental data to New World.
A board member told the Post the application was rejected as there was an accessibility issue.
He said the two roads to Wing Ning Tsuen were “too narrow” and that there was “no extra capacity” for the New World development.
Hong Kong government seeks legal advice on leak of confidential data on contentious housing project
The member noted the fact the land was a green belt site was also considered.
New World had applied to rezone a plot of land in Wang Chau to build 1,100 high-end apartments. The private development was proposed to be situated next to a site set aside for the controversial public housing project.
No representative from the developer was present at the meeting, during which the Planning Department told the board’s members that New World dropped Arup as its consultant.
In March, the Civil Engineering and Development Department commissioned Arup to carry out an infrastructure design study of the public housing project in Wang Chau.
Government left high and dry after suspending go-to consultant
The consultant was later accused of disclosing confidential data in a separate application to the board on behalf of New World.
Data relating to Wang Chau’s projected population and job figures – information only privy to government departments for research purposes – was included in New World’s proposal to the board last year to rezone a green belt site.
Last month, the Development Bureau said it was seeking legal advice on the issue.
The revelation came after authorities slapped a three-month ban on Arup from bidding on government projects after it was found to have breached a confidentiality contract.
Lawmakers criticised the government and demanded an explanation from officials on why the punishment was not more severe.


Hong Kong villagers vow to resist eviction over controversial Wang Chau public housing plan

Angry villagers in Hong Kong’s New Territories set up roadblocks, refuse to make way for Wang Chau housing project

Hong Kong lawmakers ‘not immune’ from Legislative Council contempt charges as Court of Appeal rules that ‘Long Hair’ Leung Kwok-hung trial should proceed

Lawmakers question unusual drop in development cost of controversial Wang Chau public housing project in Hong Kong

Wang Chau housing saga

Private development plan next to controversial Wang Chau project rejected on traffic concerns

Wang Chau is located in Yuen Long in the New Territories. Photo: Shutterstock

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Town Planning Board also reveals New World dropped Arup as consultant after accusations it illegally leaked confidential government data to the developer


New World Development