LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

with a range of development patterns were postulated. Under these scenarios, a number of initial and hybrid development options were generated and evaluated in terms of environment, land valuation, engineering costs and transport aspects. A final recom- mended strategy will be formulated by the end of 1993 pending the results from the TDS. Development statements for individual districts are being produced based on the goals and concepts of the Development Strategy to serve as a basis for district planning, development programming activities and statutory planning control within the NWNT.

In view of development pressures arising from the replacement airport and the port facilities in North East Lantau, the review of the SWNT Development Strategy attempted to reach a balance between future urbanised development and conservation in the SWNT. Three development scenarios with a range of development patterns were postulated. Under these scenarios, a number of initial and hybrid options were generated, evaluated and tested before the formulation of a recommended strategy for SWNT by the end of 1992. Development statements for individual districts would then be produced based on the goals and concepts of the Development Strategy to serve as a basis for district planning, development programming activities and statutory planning control within the sub-region.

Metroplan

The Metroplan Selected Strategy was approved by the Governor in Council in September 1991 to provide a planning framework for public and private sector development with the aim of making Hong Kong city a better place in which to live and work. Rather than a programme by itself, it is a conceptual strategy for developing and upgrading the Metro sub-region including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing. To further publicise the principal components of the strategy, a mobile exhibition was mounted in four different locations in early 1992.

To achieve the Metroplan objectives, with the help of consultants work started on a series of development statements to provide a planning brief for each district with priorities being given to West Kowloon, South-East Kowloon (including the Kai Tak Airport site), Tsuen Wan Kwai Tsing and Central-Western. Also as a follow-up to Metroplan, a consultancy study is underway to establish the appropriate institutional framework and map out a coherent strategy to restructure and upgrade the obsolete industrial areas in the Metro sub-region. The results of all these studies will be available in 1993.

District Planning

Most development projects are implemented in accordance with statutory or departmental town plans prepared at the district level. The purposes of these plans are to regulate and provide guidance to development in terms of types of land use, building density and development characteristics of individual sites to ensure developments are compatible with the surrounding environment, to ensure adequate provision of community facilities and public utility services, and to meet the long-term planning objectives of the territory.

Statutory Outline Zoning Plans (OZP) for various districts of the main urban areas and new towns and Development Permission Area (DPA) plans for many parts of the rural areas in the New Territories are prepared by the Town Planning Board (TPB) under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance. Planning Department is the executive arm of the TPB. Once exhibited for public inspection under the ordinance, both the OZP and

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