XN000022-1993-12-23 — Page 3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1993

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DR PUN ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE INTRODUCTION OF A TWO-TIER PLOT RATIO SYSTEM FOR "RESIDENTIAL (GROUP A)" SITES, MOST OF WHICH ARE SUFFERING FROM TRAFFIC CONGESTION CAUSED BY ON-STREET LOADING OR UNLOADING ACTIVITIES AND ILLEGAL PARKING.

MANY OF THESE SITES ARE TOO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING/UNLOADING SPACES.

A TWO-TIER PLOT RATIO SYSTEM IS THEREFORE PROPOSED TO PROVIDE INCENTIVE TO DEVELOPERS TO AMALGAMATE SITES TO ACCOMMODATE PARKING AND LOADING/UNLOADING SPACES.

"SUCH SYSTEM HELPS IMPROVE LOCAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS BY INTERNALISING PARKING AND LOADING/UNLOADING ACTIVITIES AND ENCOURAGES SITE AMALGAMATION FOR BETTER AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT IN URBAN KOWLOON, HE SAID.

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FOR SITES SMALLER THAN 400 SQUARE METRES OR SITES WITHOUT ADEQUATE PARKING AND LOADING AND UNLOADING SPACES, DR PUN CONTINUED, THE DOMESTIC PLOT RATIO IS RESTRICTED TO SIX.

FOR SITES OF 400 SQUARE METRES OR MORE AND WHERE ADEQUATE PARKING AND LOADING/UNLOADING FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED, THE DOMESTIC PLOT RATIO IS INCREASED TO 7.5.

THE TOTAL PLOT RATIO, INCLUDING NON-DOMESTIC ELEMENTS SUCH AS RETAIL USES, WOULD BE 7.5 IN THE FORMER CASE AND NINE IN THE LATTER.

DR PUN FURTHER EXPLAINED THE CONTROLS FOR OTHER LAND USES.

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IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH 'COMMERCIAL' AND INDUSTRIAL' ZONES BE RESTRICTED TO A MAXIMUM PLOT RATIO OF 12, WHILE "RESIDENTIAL (GROUP B) AND (GROUP C)" ZONES TO A MAXIMUM PLOT RATIO OF 5 AND 3 RESPECTIVELY.

"SOME LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN CENTRAL KOWLOON AND KOWLOON TONG ARE CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO SPECIAL CONTROLS UNDER THE NON- STATUTORY PLANS."

DUE TO CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS ON THE NORTH TO SOUTH AND EAST ΤΟ WEST STRATEGIC ROAD LINKS, AND THE STATION CAPACITIES OF KOWLOON- CANTON RAILWAY AND MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AT KOWLOON TONG, THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR RELAXING THE DENSITY RESTRICTIONS FOR THESE SITES.

THESE INCLUDE KOWLOON TONG, YAU YAT TSUEN AND HO MAN TIN, WHICH WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE OZPS, HE ADDED.

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL SITES WILL BE RE-ZONED FOR EITHER COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL USES TO PROVIDE CERTAINTY IN THE PREDICTION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL AND TRANSPORT DEMAND.

UNDER THE RECOMMENDED CONTROL, DR PUN EXPLAINED, TO AVOID PLANNING BLIGHT, DEVELOPERS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REPLACE EXISTING BUILDINGS WITH BUILDINGS OF THE SAME PLOT RATIOS EVEN IF THESE PLOT RATIOS EXCEED THE PROPOSED NEW PLOT RATIOS FOR VARIOUS LAND USES.

/COMPARED TO