19
STUDY ON OPEN STORAGE USES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1993
+
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS COMMISSIONING A PLANNING STUDY ON OVERALL DEMAND OF OPEN STORAGE USES AND THEIR SITE AND LOCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS SELINA CHOW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY TO CONTAIN AND REDUCE THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE USE OR ABUSE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR THE STORAGE OF CONTAINERS AND SCRAPPED VEHICLES, MR EASON SAID THE DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA (DPA) PLANS PROVIDED A BASIS FOR THE CONTROL OF LAND- USE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,
SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT)
IN 1991, 31 DPA'S HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED.
ORDINANCE
"PERMISSION FROM THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD IS NOW REQUIRED FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT INSIDE AREAS COVERED BY DPA'S BUT NOT ZONED FOR THE PURPOSES PLANNED, AND UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENT IS SUBJECT ΤΟ ENFORCEMENT ACTION, MR EASON SAID.
FURTHER PROGRESS CAN BE EXPECTED AS THE DPA PLANS ARE CONVERTED INTO OUTLINE ZONING PLANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
REGARDING THE NON-CONFORMING USES WHICH EXISTED BEFORE THE GAZETTING OF THE DPA PLANS, MR EASON SAID AMORTISATION AS PROPOSED IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE AND OTHER PROPOSALS SUCH AS UPZONING MIGHT HELP PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM IN THE LONGER TERM.
0
"FAST TRACK" PROCEDURE USED BY LAW REFORM COMMISSION
THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION HAD COMPLETED TWO REFERENCES BY THE "FAST TRACK" PROCEDURE, WHICH DID NOT INVOLVE THE ASSISTANCE OF A SUB- COMMITTEE, IN AN AVERAGE OF 29 MONTHS, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN WOOD, SAID.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON EMILY LAU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR WOOD SAID ONE REFERENCE WAS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED UNDER THE "FAST TRACK" PROCEDURE, WHILE TERMS OF REFERENCE HAD BEEN SIGNED FOR A FURTHER REFERENCE WHICH WOULD BE DEALT WITH IN THE SAME WAY.
HE SAID SUBJECTS FOR REVIEW BY THE COMMISSION WERE CHOSEN BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
"THERE ARE