Brownfield sites in Hong Kong lack an official definition. This study aims to provide a comprehensive report on brownfield sites through historical analyses, land investigations, case studies, and international policy reviews. An investigation in 2015 found over 1,192 hectares of brownfield sites, consisting mainly of container yards, open parking areas, and storage/waste areas in northern New Territories. A case study on a shelved public housing development project in Wang Chau highlighted issues of inefficient land use and suspected illegal occupation of government land. The report recommends establishing a clear brownfield definition, integrated territory-wide brownfield policies, and a public brownfield land database to improve land management.

1. Brownfield Research
in
Hong Kong
Liber Research
Community

2. Study Aims
• This study aims at providing a more
comprehensive civil research report on
brownfield sites:
• Systematic account of historical developments
• Land investigation updates;
• Case analyses; and
• International experience on related policies.
• Provide a reference for the general public
• Propose a policy framework on brownfield
• Respond to the current situation of HK

3. Definition of “Brownfields” (Overseas
Examples)
US
An abandoned or underutilized property
where expansion or redevelopment is
hindered by either real or perceived
environmental contamination.
UK Previously-developed land, whether
vacant/derelict
Japan
Lands which are unused or with extremely
limited use compared to their intrinsic value
because of existence or potential
existence of soil contamination.

4. Definition of “Brownfield” in
HK

No official definition

With reference to the report published by
ProCommons in 2013 ：
Destroyed agricultural land converted intoDestroyed agricultural land converted into
open storage of containers, open storageopen storage of containers, open storage
of recycling materials, and vehicles parkingof recycling materials, and vehicles parking
areas in New Territories.areas in New Territories.

5. Origin of Brownfield in HK
• Improper Use of land
 Government regulations cannot implement
 properly will be discussed later
• Court Case in 1983 (Melhado Case)
 Brown Crown Lease described the landuse only
 No restriction on landuse
• New demand on logistics and Improper planning

6. Origin of Brownfield in HK

Strong Demand for Port Back-Up Land Use
without Proper Planning

7. Problems Raised by Brownfield
Operations

Environmental Problem: Fire Safety
Fire on Sites of Recycling Materials (Electronic waste) in
Hung Lung Hang, Ta Kwu Ling (Nov 2013)
Fire on Sites of Recycling Materials in
Law Uk Tsuen, Wang Toi Shan, Pak
Heung, Yuen Long (Oct 2013) (Photos from
Internet))

8. Situational Investigation
Research Methodology
• Using geo-information system including Google
Earth 、 Google Map and Google Street View
• Recognizing the distribution of brownfield of
Hong Kong via 2015 satellite images

9. Classification
Category Content Appearance Examples
1) Container
Yard
Open area for
container
storage
Regular and large
rectangular shapes
shown on Google
Map
2) Open Car
Park
Open car parks
of container
trucks, private
cars, coaches
while car parks
located within
village or
countryside
estates are not
included
On Google Map,
round dots
concentrating on
open area are
private cars while
dots linked with
rectangular shapes
are container
trucks and rounded
rectangular shapes
are coaches.
Private
Car Park
Heavy
Goods
Vehicles
Park
Brownfield Investigation 2015

10. Category Content Appearance Examples
3) Storage,
waste
recycling
purpose
Open storage
of construction
materials,
construction
waste and
recycling
materials
A piles of materials
or wastes on open
area or near
storage house
observed on Google
Map
4) Others
(wasteland,
illegible)
Difficult to
identify the use
of space
Destroyed
wasteland or sites
occupied by
temporary
structures covered
by corrugated iron
sheet
Classification
Situational Investigation

11. Category Area (Ha) ( % ）
Storage and
recycling materials
472.7
39.7
Container Yard 305.7 25.6
Open Car Park 171.5 14.4
Others (wasteland,
illegible)
242.1
20.3
Total Area 1,192.0 100.0
Situational Investigation

12. Brownfield Investigation 2015
https://goo.gl/vKxNkr

13. Situational Investigation
Characters of Brownfield
•
Most is found in the norther NT, near the cross border
•
Close relationship with the cross-border trading and services
•
Mainly distributed along major roads and some spreading to the
countryside green area
•
Lack of proper management & lack of efficient use of land with
env. problem
Open Storage of electronic
waste recycling in Hung Lung
Hang (taken on 5 Oct 2013 )
Hui Shui Kiu
(taken on 5 Oct 2013)
Hung Shui Kiu

14. Case Analysis －
Shelved Wang Chau Brownfield PRH Development
(Picture by InMedia HK)

15. Plan submitted to Yuen Long DC by Housing Department in 2014
Case Analysis －
Shelved Wang Chau Brownfield PRH Development

16. Land Ownership
•Government Land: > 50%
•Private Land: < 50%
• Maybe shared by a
number of owners
Government Land
Private Land
Case Analysis－
Shelved Yuen Long Wang Chau Brownfield PRH Development

17. Inefficient utilization with suspected cases of illegal occupation of
Govt. Land
Govt. Land
Private Land
Case Analysis －
Shelved Wang Chau Brownfield PRH Development

18. Suspected Illegal Occupation of G.Land
Govt. Land
Private Land
Inefficient utilization with suspected cases of illegal occupation of
Govt. Land
Case Analysis －
Shelved Wang Chau Brownfield PRH Development

19. With Opportunities to have Proper Infrastructure Support
YLIEYLIE
NSWNSW
Tin Shui WaiTin Shui Wai
New TownNew Town
Wan ChauWan Chau
YL New TownYL New Town
Case Analysis －
Shelved Wang Chau Brownfield PRH Development

20. Policy Recommendation
1. Provide Definition for Brownfield
• Clear official definition
• Including land structure, current situation and policy
• Develop public database on Brownfield land
2. Formulate territory-wide integrated policy on
brownfield land
• Land Pollution paid by the polluters
• Subsidise environmental rehabilitation
• Subsidise industrial transformation
• Build multi-storey car parks to replace open temporary car-parks
3. Establish “Brownfield Priority” development
policy principle

21. Policy Recommendation
4. Develop public database on brownfield land
• updated annually and clearly denotes the existing purpose,
usage efficiency, property ownership, compatibility with
adjacent land in terms of land use of each brownfield site
• enables the general public to take up an overseeing role
on the issue of brownfield land extension

22. Contact Us
Email: info@liber-research.com
Website: http://www.liber-research.com
FB: localresearch

23. Lok Ma Chau