XN000022-1992-10-08 — Page 55

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1992

PRINCIPLES FOR APPLICATION OF DEVELOPMENT IN MAI PO AREAS ENDORSED

* * * * *

THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD HAS ENDORSED THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS AROUND MAI PO NATURAL RESERVE (MPNR).

THE SITE IS ZONED AS "SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST" (SSSI) IN THE DRAFT MAI PO AND FAIRVIEW PARK DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLAN IN RECOGNITION THAT THE RESERVE IS INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED AS AN EXTENSIVE AREA OF UNAFFECTED WETLAND HABITATS FOR MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS AND MAMMALS, AND A STOPOVER POINT FOR THOUSANDS OF MIGRATORY BIRDS.

AT A RECENT MEETING, THE BOARD VIEWED THAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE VALUABLE HABITAT AREAS AROUND THE RESERVE, IT WAS NECESSARY TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS IN ITS VICINITY SO AS TO AVOID THEIR ADVERSE CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON THE NATURE RESERVE.

THE BOARD AGREED THAT THE AREA SHOULD BE DEFINED AS DEEP BAY BUFFER ZONE 1 AND DEEP BAY BUFFER ZONE 2 RESPECTIVELY BY APPLYING CERTAIN PRINCIPLES.

BUFFER ZONE 1 IS THE AREA IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF INNER DEEP BAY INCLUDING THE MPNR WHERE STRINGENT PLANNING CONTROLS WILL BE EXERCISED.

THE PLANNING INTENTION IS PRIMARILY TO PROTECT THE SPECIAL ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF THESE COASTLINES AREAS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS, INCLUDING INTER-TIDAL BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY.

NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS ZONE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED UNLESS IT IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF THE AREA'S NATURAL FEATURES AND SCENIC QUALITIES.

BUFFER ZONE 2 COVERS AREA FURTHER AWAY FROM THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS WITH INSIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE BE CONSIDERED.

RESERVE WHERE RESERVE WILL

IT CONSISTS OF MUCH WIDER AREAS WHICH HAVE A WIDER BEARING ON THE OVERALL AMENITY AND WATER QUALITY OF MPNR AND OTHER SSSI'S IN THE VICINITY.

THE PLANNING INTENTION IS PRIMARILY то RESTRICT TO AGRICULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL USES ONLY.

DEVELOPMENTS

NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS ZONE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED UNLESS THE APPLICANT COULD DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE INSIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT, DRAINAGE AND TRAFFIC IN THE AREA INCLUDING THE MPNR.

AN EXPLANATORY NOTE ON THE INTENTION BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE MAI PO NATURAL RESERVE, THE PRINCIPLES IN THE CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS AND A PLAN SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TWO ZONES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN THE PLANNING INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATION UNIT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, 16TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, KONG.

HONG

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