XN000022-1996-02-13 — Page 11

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Dr Pun also disclosed that the department was co-ordinating a crosslinks study to assess the impact of the proposed Lingdingyang Bridge and Shenzhen Western Corridor on transport infrastructure, land use, environment and other related aspects of Hong Kong.

"The study, already commenced in September 1995, is expected to complete by May 1996," he said.

Meanwhile, action is in hand to introduce a Town Planning (Amendment) Bill which aims at making the planning system more open and accountable to the public, streamlining procedures and adopting a planning certificate system.

Several legislative amendments have been proposed in an interim amendment bill to overcome some of the imminent problems in the existing system and to further improve the efficiency in the operation of TPB.

"These include the setting up of committees to hear objections, provision for the appointment of more than one Deputy Chairman for the Town Planning Appeal Board (TPAB), definition of 'public officer' to put it beyond doubt that a judge may be appointed to the Appeal Board, and clarification on the nature of a continuing offence.

"This interim amendment bill was introduced into the Legislative Council on November 15, 1995, and is currently being considered by the Bills Committee," Dr Pun said.

Turning to the work achieved by TPB and its planning committees and TPAB, Dr Pun said two new outline zoning plans (OZPs) and 14 amended OZPs were formulated by the Board during the year. It also gave preliminary consideration to over 1,500 objections and heard about 160 objections.

Last year, the planning committees and TPB had considered about 750 planning applications and 130 reviews respectively. Of these, about 500 cases were approved upon first consideration while 63 approved upon review.

Since the introduction of the Town Planning (Appeals) Regulation in November 1991, a total of 90 appeals were received by TPAB as at the end of last

year.

"In 1995, the TPAB received 31 appeals and heard 10 cases. By the end of the year, four out of the 90 appeals have been allowed, 33 have been dismissed, 29 have been abandoned or found invalid and 24 were awaiting to be heard," he said.