LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
The first stage of the Metroplan Review was completed in July 1998. The second stage commenced in March and is scheduled for completion in late 2000. The review is tasked to produce an updated planning framework for the development and redevelopment of the Metro Area. It also includes a review of the Kowloon Density Study.
Integrated planning and development studies have also begun to assess the development potentials of three broad areas the TDS Review identified for strategic growth. They are the Planning and Development Study on NWNT which commenced in October 1997; the Planning and Development Study on NENT, in January 1998 and the Planning and Development Study on Hong Kong Island South and Lamma Island, in March 1998. The Northshore Lantau Development Feasibility Study started in mid-1998. After detailed investigation, the study has recommended development of the North-East Lantau area along the tourism/recreation theme, including a major theme park at Penny's Bay. The Draft Recommended Strategy for the SWNT sub-region has been completed and will be finalised taking into account comments/views collected during public consultation.
The review of the SENT Development Strategy started in March, with a view to formulating an up-to-date planning framework for the sub-region. The review is tasked, in particular, to prepare a tourism/recreation framework to explore these potentials in the Sai Kung area.
Public consultation is an important element in the sub-regional planning studies as the recommended strategy to be formulated will set a long-term development framework for the respective areas. Public consultations, mostly in the form of public fora, are conducted to ensure that the public views could be taken into account in the study process.
District Planning
Development projects are implemented in accordance with statutory or departmental district plans. These plans aim to regulate and provide guidance to development in terms of land-use, building density and development characteristics, to ensure that they are in line with the planning objectives of the districts.
Statutory Planning
The Town Planning Board (TPB) is set up under the Town Planning Ordinance to prepare statutory plans to show the broad land-use framework of specific areas, including major roads and other transport systems, and provide statutory planning controls through land-use zoning and specification of development parameters. Two types of statutory plans are prepared: outline zoning plans (OZPs) and development permission area (DPA) plans.
DPA plans, which are similar to but less comprehensive and definitive than OZPs, are interim plans covering rural areas in the New Territories and would be eventually replaced by OZPs. Development scheme plans (DSPs) prepared by the Land Development Corporation (LDC) also require approval by the TPB.
In 1999, one new OZP, two new DPA plans and three new DSPs were published by the TPB. The board also amended 89 statutory plans. At the end of the year, there were 95 OZPs, four DPA plans and 12 LDC DSPs.
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