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HOUSING AND LAND
including major public works for developing areas. Once a statutory plan is gazetted for public inspection, it has statutory effect. Under the Buildings Ordinance, the Building Authority may refuse to give approval to any plans of building works which would contravene any approved or draft plan prepared under the Town Planning Ordinance.
To redress the deficiency of community and recreational facilities in existing urban areas, suitable private properties have been zoned for government, institution and community use, as well as open space use, on statutory plans. Where necessary to implement development, properties are resumed by the government under the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance with provision made for compensation. To avoid piecemeal redevelopment and to encourage comprehensive urban design, suitable areas have also been designated as comprehensive redevelopment areas on statutory plans. Under this designation redevelopment may only proceed in a comprehensive manner according to master layout plans approved by the Town Planning Board.
During the year, the Town Planning Board published seven draft statutory plans including draft outline zoning plans for Quarry Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin and Tai Po. A total of 11 objections to the published plans were considered by the board and as a result some of the draft plans were amended for further public examination. By the end of the year, 26 out of 39 planning areas in the main urban areas were covered by gazetted or approved statutory plans. In the New Territories, there are currently seven draft statutory plans covering Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tuen Mun and the South Lantau coast.
The Town Planning Ordinance also makes provision for a Schedule of Notes to be attached to each statutory plan. This schedule shows the uses which are permitted in a particular zone and the other uses for which the Town Planning Board's permission must be sought. The provision for applications for planning permission under the ordinance allows great flexibility in land use planning and better control of development to meet changing needs. During the year, the board considered 134 applications, compared with 106 applications the previous year. Should the board refuse to grant permission, the applicant may apply for a review of the decision. In 1982, there were 23 applications for review, compared with 18 in 1981.
Departmental plans, which are used administratively within the government to guide and control development, comprise planning guides, outline development plans and layout plans. They are prepared, where applicable, within the framework of the statutory outline zoning plans prepared by the Town Planning Board. The Urban Area Development Organisation and New Territories Development Department are responsible for the pre- paration and revision of these departmental plans in the main urban area and the New Territories respectively.
Planning guides are prepared for large areas within the New Territories, such as Lantau Island and the Sai Kung Peninsula, where there is a need to lay down guidelines for development. They indicate broad areas reserved for water catchments, country parks, conservation, agriculture, urban development and other major land uses.
Compared with statutory plans, outline development and layout plans are normally drawn to a larger scale, showing road proposals and the disposition of sites in greater detail. These are 'action' plans which enable land to be prepared and released for public and private development. New outline development and layout plans prepared during the year include the Mid-level West Outline Development Plan, Sai Wan Ho Reclamation Layout Plan, Tsuen Wan Planning Area 25 and Reclamation Outline Development Plan and Tai Po Area 30 Layout Plan. In addition, many existing outline development and layout plans