Planning Department updates list of vacant school premises sites reviewed under Central Clearing House mechanism

     The Planning Department (PlanD) today (May 10) updated the report of vacant school premises (VSP) sites reviewed under the Central Clearing House mechanism. The report is available on PlanD's website (www.pland.gov.hk) and at PlanD's Planning Enquiry Counters located at North Point Government Offices and Sha Tin Government Offices. In the 2020 review, the long-term uses of St. Joseph's Anglo-Chinese School and Hung Hom Government Primary School were examined and both VSP sites were recommended to be retained for Government, Institution or Community (G/IC) use. 

     With a view to making gainful use of the VSP sites, PlanD will review the long-term use of VSP sites after the Education Bureau has confirmed that the sites are no longer required for school use. To date, out of the 236 VSP sites reviewed, 183 VSP sites (about 78 per cent) have been recommended for retaining G/IC use and 26 sites (about 11 per cent) have been recommended for residential use (with 14 sites for public housing development). The remaining 27 sites (about 11 per cent), which are former village schools in the New Territories located in village areas, are recommended for retaining their uses as village type development, rural use, open space and more. Upon confirmation of the long-term uses for the VSP sites, PlanD will inform the departments concerned of the recommendations for their follow-up as appropriate.

     Of these 236 reviewed VSP sites, 44 are on private land and their utilisation generally depends on the private owners' initiative having regard to the applicable uses in statutory planning terms and lease conditions. For the 192 VSP sites on government land or private land to be surrendered to the Government, 95 of these have been put to definitive uses and 59 are under active planning for gainful use or further review. A further 38 sites pending implementation of long-term uses are available for application by non-governmental organisations or social enterprises for community, institutional or non-profit making uses on a short-term basis. Members of the public can contact the relevant managing parties for the latest information on these sites.