Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation | 231
Energising Kowloon East
To sustain Hong Kong's position as a global financial and commercial centre, the Government plans to expedite the transformation of Kowloon East, comprising the former industrial areas of Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay, and the new Kai Tak development, into a central business district. Known as the 'Energising Kowloon East' project, the plan's emphasis is on improved connectivity, branding, design and diversity. A new, multi-disciplinary, dedicated office will be set up in the Development Bureau in 2012 to steer and monitor Kowloon East's transformation.
Town Planning Board
The Town Planning Board (TPB) is the principal body responsible for statutory planning in Hong Kong. Its members are appointed by the Chief Executive under the Town Planning Ordinance (TPO). Comprising mostly non-Government members, the TPB oversees the preparation and review of statutory plans, considers public representations to them and examines applications for amending them. In 2011, 26 statutory plans were amended and one new Outline Zoning Plan and eight new Development Permission Area (DPA) Plans were published.
Under the TPO, any person may submit to the TPB his or her views on draft statutory plans. In 2011, the TPB examined 8 857 such submissions. During the year, 22 statutory plans were submitted to the Chief Executive in Council for approval. In 2011, the TPB also considered 38 applications for amendments to statutory plans.
A set of notes is attached to each statutory plan, listing the uses permitted in particular zones and those that require TPB permission. In 2011, the TPB considered 853 applications for planning permission and 791 applications for amendments to approved schemes. The TPB also reviewed its decisions on 80 applications.
Applicants aggrieved by the TPB decisions may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal Boards. In 2011, the Appeal Boards heard eight cases, of which one was allowed, six were dismissed and one is awaiting a decision.
The TPB also promulgates guidelines for statutory planning. In 2011, one set of new guidelines was promulgated and one set of existing guidelines was revised. At the end of 2011, there were 32 sets of guidelines.
Planning Enforcement
The TPO provides the Planning Authority with enforcement powers to tackle 'unauthorised developments' (UDs) in Development Permission Areas. The Planning Authority may serve statutory notices on the respective landowners, occupiers and/or responsible persons, requiring them to stop or discontinue a UD within a specified time. Subsequently, a further statutory notice may be served to require the site to be reinstated. Non-compliance is a statutory offence.
In 2011, a total of 383 new UDs, including open storage, container-related uses, vehicle parks and land/pond fillings were discovered. A total of 3 580 warning letters or reminders (involving 624 cases), 1 997 enforcement notices (involving 314 cases), 13 stop notices (involving two cases), 357 reinstatement notices (involving 59 cases) and 1 624 compliance notices (involving 269 cases) were issued. A total of