ENG-1994 — Page 267

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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considered unnecessary at this stage, as the planning policy emphasising conservation and the enhancement of the recreation potential in SENT (except for the new town development in Tseung Kwan O) remains unchanged.

District Planning

Development projects are implemented in accordance with statutory or departmental district plans. These plans aim to regulate and provide guidance to development in terms of land-use, building density and development characteristics, to ensure that they are in line with the planning objectives of the districts.

Statutory Planning

Two types of statutory plans are prepared and published by the Town Planning Board (TPB) under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance the outline zoning plans (OZPs) and development permission area (DPA) plans. Apart from the preparation of these, the TPB is also charged with the processing of development scheme plans prepared by the Land Development Corporation (LDC) under the LDC Ordinance.

The OZPs are intended to show the broad land-use framework for the areas in question, including the major roads and other transport systems, and provide statutory planning controls such as specific development restrictions within respective land-use zones.

DPA plans have been prepared after the enactment of the Town Planning (Amendment) = -Ordinance 1991 for areas not previously covered by OZPs and they mainly cover the rural areas in the New Territories. DPA plans provide interim planning controls and guidance on development for selected areas before their replacement by OZPS within three years. Under the provisions of the ordinance, enforcement action can be taken against unauthorised developments within DPAS. The provisions for enforcement will continue to be applicable in the subject areas after the DPA plans are replaced by OZPs. By mid-1994, the first batch of 30 DPA plans prepared and published in 1991 had all been approved by the Governor in Council. They were replaced by draft OZPs before the statutory deadline in July.

Each LDC development scheme plan is accompanied by a land-use diagram indicating the broad types of planned uses, as well as a set of notes setting out the permitted uses and the requirements for the submission of a master layout plan to the TPB in order to implement any redevelopment proposal within the scheme area.

In 1994, 31 new OZPs and one new DPA plan were published, and 27 existing plans were amended by the TPB. At the end of the year, there were a total of 82 OZPs, six DPA plans and four LDC development scheme plans.

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, any person affected by the statutory plans can lodge objections with the TPB. OZPs, DPA plans and LDC development scheme plans are subject to the same publication and objection hearing procedures. During the year, a total of 478 objections to statutory plans were lodged, and 406 objections (including those brought forward from the previous year) were considered by the TPB.

Attached to each statutory plan is a schedule of notes showing the uses which are always permitted in particular zones and other uses for which the TPB's permission must be sought. The provision for application for planning permission allows flexibility in land-use planning and better control of development to meet community needs and changing circumstances. With a view to guiding applicants in their submission of planning