The government has announced changes to the tender conditions for two industrial sites located in Hong Shui Kiu and Yuen Long. These adjustments aim to address concerns raised by potential bidders regarding investment levels and market uncertainties. Originally scheduled to close on March 21, the tender deadline has been extended until July 25. The new terms include modifications to ownership structure, leasing arrangements, and construction specifications, providing more flexibility for developers while ensuring support for affected brownfield operators.

In response to feedback from prospective bidders, significant revisions have been made to the tender process for multistorey buildings (MSBs) at Hong Shui Kiu Town Lot No. 10 and Yuen Long Town Lot No. 545. Under the updated framework, the successful enterprise will hold complete ownership of the MSB properties. Upon completion, a portion of the building's floor space will be leased to the government at a nominal rent for a decade. This leased area will then be managed by the government or its appointed agent and rented out to brownfield operators impacted by development initiatives.

The original requirement mandating enterprises to permanently allocate specific floor areas to the government without charge has been replaced with this temporary leasing arrangement. Furthermore, the minimum leaseable floor space during the ten-year period has been recalculated based on the minimum permissible gross floor area (GFA). For the Hong Shui Kiu site, the minimum is approximately 46,000 square meters, whereas for the Yuen Long site, it is around 29,000 square meters.

To enhance consistency and reduce construction costs, adjustments have also been made to the structural specifications. The floor loading requirement for the leased space in the Hong Shui Kiu lot has been decreased from 30 kilonewtons per square meter to 25 kilonewtons per square meter, aligning it with the Yuen Long site's standards. This modification brings both sites into line with general industrial building norms.

These revised documents for the land sales will become accessible online early next month, allowing interested parties ample time to prepare their submissions ahead of the extended deadline. By incorporating feedback and making these strategic adjustments, the government aims to foster greater participation and ensure that the projects meet both economic and social objectives.