XN000022-1991-01-23 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1991

HE STRESSED THAT BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD FULLY UNDERSTOOD THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS REGARD AND HB WAS CONFIDENT THAT LAND OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS WOULD SPEEDILY APPRECIATE THAT THIS WAS A BETTER AND MORE DECISIVE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT.

MEANWHILE, MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY CONSIDERING HOW THE ADMINISTRATIVE INTERIM DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS COULD BE IMPROVED AS THEY WERE TURNED INTO THE DRAFT STATUTORY DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS.

HE SAID ON PRESENT PROJECTIONS, НЕ EXPECTED THAT THB GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO INCLUDE UPWARDS OF 10 AREAS FOR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT; AND IN ADDITION AROUND FIVE OR SO AREAS WHERE APPLICATIONS FOR THE ZONING OF COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ARRAS, AGAIN PRIMARILY FOR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, COULD RE CONSIDERED.

HE ALSO SAID THAT IN ADDITION, THE 30 INTERIM DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS PUBLISHED SO FAR HAD MADE PROVISIONS FOR 240 HECTARES FOR OPEN STORAGE USE, OF WHICH ONLY 28 HECTARES WERE BEING USED FOR SUCH PURPOSE.

IN OTHER WORDS, 220 HECTARES OF LAND WITHIN THE INTERIM DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREAS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE FUTURE USE OF OPEN STORAGE, REPRESENTING AN EXPANSION ALLOWANCE OF 60 PER CENT ON EXISTING OPEN STORAGE AREAS.

HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO PROCEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION PLANS WITH THE FULLY DETAILED OUTLINE ZONING PLANS, SQ THAT THE STATUTORY PLANNING SYSTEM COULD INDEED GIVE THEM MAXIMUM GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE BILL WAS PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS.

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TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE UNDER FULL REVIEW IN APRIL

CARRIED

SUCH AS

A FULL REVIEW OF THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE IS TO BE OUT LATER THIS YEAR AND UNDER WHICH CONTENTIOUS ISSUES COMPENSATION WILL BE FULLY EXAMINED, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE SPOKESMAN, SPEAKING AFTER THE PASSING INTO LAW AT TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, ADDED THAT THE BILL WAS AIMED AT PREVENTING FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE RURAL AREAS PENDING THE FULL REVIEW LATER.

HE SAID: "FOR MANY YEARS AGRICULTURAL LAND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO OPEN STORAGE AND ALLIED USES. MANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT IN A HAPHAZARD AND DISORDERLY MANNER, CREATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.

/"THE TOWN