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Planning, Land and Infrastructure
Economic Belt will create potential for warehousing, research and development (R&D) and modern logistics, capitalising on its strategic location close to Shenzhen.
Strategic Growth Areas
East Lantau Metropolis
The basic concept of the East Lantau Metropolis is to create artificial islands via reclamation in the waters near Kau Yi Chau and the Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter, and to better utilise underused land in Mui Wo, with the aim of creating a smart, liveable and low-carbon development cluster that encompasses a CBD3. Spatially, it tallies with an overall westward shift in centrality of the regional development pattern. It also provides a new platform to leverage development potential spurred by new and improved regional transport connections extending from the traditional CBD to the Pear! River Delta east and west.
New Territories North
In developing the New Territories North, comprehensive planning and more efficient use of brownfield sites and abandoned agricultural land in the New Territories would be employed to provide land for building new communities and developing modern industries and industries preferring a boundary location, while improving the living environment of the area. A new town at Heung Yuen Wai/Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling/Hung Lung Hang/Queen's Hill, together with two potential development areas at San Tin/Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To, have been identified. Strategically, the growth area provides space to develop economic and employment nodes. outside the Metropolitan Business Core and redresses the current home-job imbalance of the territory. Spatially, it leverages the strategic transport infrastructure serving and being improved for the area and its strategic proximity with Shenzhen to capture economic opportunities for Hong Kong.
Town Planning Board
The Town Planning Board (TPB), established under the Town Planning Ordinance, oversees the preparation and review of statutory plans and considers planning applications. In 2016, it amended 13 statutory plans and published five new outline zoning plans and two Urban Renewal Authority development scheme plans. The board also promulgates guidelines for statutory planning. It had 32 sets of guidelines as at the year end.
Any person may submit views on draft statutory plans to the TPB. In 2016, the board examined 21,468 such submissions and filed 16 statutory plans to the Chief Executive in Council for approval. It also considered 78 applications for amendments to statutory plans, 1,042 for planning permission, 801 for amendments to the approved schemes and 66 to review the decisions of its Planning Committees.
Applicants aggrieved by the TPB's decisions may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal Board. In 2016, the appeal board heard eight cases, of which four were dismissed, one was allowed, one was adjourned and two were awaiting the decision.
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