Cavern Master Plan
Background
Creating new land is essential to the sustainable development of Hong Kong and cavern development is one of the viable options under the multi-pronged strategy to increase land supply. The hilly terrain with strong rocks in Hong Kong is highly suitable for developing rock caverns, particularly in the fringe of development areas. There is proven local experience in cavern construction as demonstrated by various existing facilities built in Hong Kong.
The Government has prepared a Cavern Master Plan (CMP) to guide and facilitate territory-wide planning on the uses of caverns in Hong Kong. The CMP was first promulgated in 2017. A review and update of the CMP was carried out under the "Pilot Planning and Engineering Study on Development of Selected Strategic Cavern Areas - Feasibility Study" completed by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) in conjunction with the Planning Department (PlanD) in 2025.
User of the Cavern Master Plan
Any project proponent of development projects considering cavern options can make reference to the CMP when planning/studying their projects or identifying suitable cavern sites.
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Cavern Master Plan
The CMP is a non-statutory plan serving as user guidelines for options on uses of rock caverns and is not a development blueprint.
The CMP delineates Strategic Cavern Areas (SCVAs) that are suitable for the uses of rock caverns in terms of geological suitability, infrastructural support, environmental constraints, etc. It aims to make known these SCVAs and their essential information to project proponents such that they can identify suitable sites and potential uses in rock caverns for development projects considering cavern options as and when needed. The CMP is accompanied by an Explanatory Statement and a set of Information Notes.
Explanatory Statement
The Explanatory Statement provides the key information on the CMP. It sets out the objectives of the CMP, outlines the rationale and methodology of delineating SCVAs, and highlights key issues for project implementation. A list of examples of potential uses in rock caverns is also appended to the Explanatory Statement.
Strategic Cavern Areas
The CMP delineates forty-eight (48) SCVAs, of which 11 are on Hong Kong Island, 5 in Kowloon and 32 in the New Territories (of which 7 on Lantau Island). The sizes of individual SCVAs range from approximately 30 to 200 hectares. The area of SCVAs does not represent the actual developable cavern space and its limit on area directly because provisions have to be made for features like buffer zones between individual facilities, intervening rock pillars for support and adits for portal access and inter-connection, and the proposed usages.
Information Note
For each SCVA, an Information Note is provided to describe the characteristics of and development constraints on the SCVA. The Information Note includes details of the geological, environmental and traffic characteristics and other key issues/constraints on cavern development. It also outlines the extent of potential portal locations. A Reference Drawing is appended to each Information Note to illustrate the spatial context of the information provided.
The CMP, Explanatory Statement and Information Notes collectively serve to fulfil the objectives of facilitating territory-wide planning on the uses of rock caverns and promulgating essential information for project proponents both in the public and private sectors to identify suitable cavern sites for development projects considering cavern options. The CMP will be reviewed and updated as necessary taking account of changing cavern policy, circumstances and development needs.
Any cavern development project, no matter within or outside the SCVAs, should be assessed on individual merits, with due regard to development need, technical feasibility and financial viability, and also in compliance with relevant administrative and regulatory requirements.
Download
Please click the following link to download the Cavern Master Plan and its Explanatory Statement.
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Please click the individual Strategic Cavern Area in the table below to download the respective Information Note and Reference Drawing.
Related Information:
Project proponents can also make reference to the relevant documents or websites as listed below when pursuing cavern development projects.
- Development Bureau Technical Circular (Works) No. 2/2024 on Rock Cavern Development
(https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/technicalcirculars/en/upload/1398/1/C-2024-02-01.pdf) - Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, Planning Department
(https://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/tech_doc/hkpsg/index.html)
Contact Information
For enquiry, please contact the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department or the Planning Department:
Geotechnical Projects Division
Geotechnical Engineering Office
Civil Engineering and Development Department
5/F, Civil Engineering and Development Building
101 Princess Margaret Road
Homantin, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Technical Services Section
Planning Department
17/F, North Point Government Offices
333 Java Road
Hong Kong