LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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They have statutory effect once exhibited for public inspection, and any plans relating to building works submitted under the Buildings Ordinance may be disapproved by the Building Authority if they contravene a statutory outline zoning plan.
In 1989, the Town Planning Board exhibited 12 statutory outline zoning plans, including one new plan covering Tsuen Wan West and 11 amendment plans for various districts in the territory. During the exhibition of these plans, a total of 101 public objections were received by the board and amendments to some of the plans were made to meet these objections.
At the end of the year, 45 statutory outline zoning plans covered the main urban area as well as Tsuen Wan, Tsuen Wan West, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi Island, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Fanling-Sheung Shui, South Lantau Coast and Ma Wan. Eighteen of them have been approved by the Governor in Council.
Attached to and forming part of each plan is a schedule of notes setting out the land uses which are permitted as of right in particular zones or which may be permitted with or without conditions on application to the Town Planning Board. The system of application for planning permission allows greater flexibility in land use planning to meet community needs. The ordinance also provides an applicant whose application is refused by the Town Planning Board with the right to request the board to review its decision. During the year, the board considered 282 applications for planning permission and 33 applications for review, as compared with 248 and 42 respectively in 1988.
- An area may be designated a 'Comprehensive Development Area' or a 'Comprehensive Redevelopment Area' on a statutory outline zoning plan. This is intended to promote development or redevelopment in a comprehensive manner, often including the provision of a range of related community facilities and open space. Developments within these areas must have planning permission from the Town Planning Board and applications for planning permission should be in the form of a master layout plan. During the year, five applications for approval of master layout plans were considered by the board.
Outline development and layout plans are used administratively within the government to guide development. While both are prepared within the framework of the sub-regional planning statements and statutory outline zoning plans, layout plans are usually of local significance and apply to newly-formed land or to areas requiring comprehensive re- development. They are action plans enabling land to be prepared and released for public and private development. Compared with statutory plans, they are normally drawn to a larger scale, showing development proposals and the disposition of sites in greater detail.
Review of Town Planning Ordinance
The Town Planning Ordinance now in force was enacted in 1939. Although amendments have been made to the ordinance over the years, the essence of the legislation remains basically unchanged. The ordinance is now considered to be inadequate to cope with today's rapidly changing socio-economic and political conditions.
An advisory group set up in 1988 has made recommendations for new planning legislation. These are being studied by the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch with a view to putting forward proposals for new legislation in 1990.
Planning Information
The Central Information Unit of the Town Planning Office provides a channel through which planning information is released to the public. The unit promotes public under- standing of town planning and development in Hong Kong by issuing pamphlets,