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Table 7. Comparison of pre-2000 / early 2000s and post-2010 development plans of Strategic
Growth Areas

Notes: ( * ) The potential population is calculated under the assumption that the average number
of persons in a household dwelling is three.
(@) Private and public flats built in the Tung Chung area by the end of 2015 totalled
approximately 30,000 units.
Sources: Planning Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department, and Legislative
Council.

The reason behind the uncanny resemblance between the pre-
2000, early 2000 plans and the post-2010s plans is not difficult to conceive.
Development plans that were tabled nearly 20 years ago and then shelved
in the early 2000s were re-tabled with minor adjustments made.

If ample lead-time was allowed for planning and development, the
NDA projects in Kwu Tong North and Fanling North might not have stalled
until 2014 with an updated version of a plan that was completed nearly
two decades ago. Reviewing past experience, it seems to suggest that
preparatory measures should have been made once it was noted that
the property market had rebounded. As such, these aforementioned large-
scale housing projects may have already been delivered.

4.2 A Case Study: The Marina Bay

An example that may shed light on the importance of a land
reserve is the land supply strategy adopted by the Singapore government.
The case is the development of Marina Bay located in the Central Area of
Singapore. The area is an extension of the Central Business District with
word-class facilities catering to business, commercial, financial, recreational,
and sporting needs.

The development history of Marina Bay is succinct and well laid
out. Land reclamation of 360 hectares, which was comparable to Hong
Kong’s new town Tin Shui Wai (430 hectares), commenced in 1969 and
was completed in 1992. The commencement of land reclamation actually
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