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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

A comprehensive review of the strategy commenced in 1990. Two development scenarios have been postulated in the current TDS Review. The first scenario assumes the Pearl River Delta area as Hong Kong's primary economic hinterland, and the second includes both Guangdong Province and some inner provinces of China as Hong Kong's economic hinterland.

The TDS Review consists of three main streams of work: the foundation studies, including identification of goals and objectives key issues and evaluation criteria; the formulation and evaluation of TDS development options on the basis of the foundation studies; and the formulation of a recommended development strategy for the territory and a medium-term implementation plan. The second stage includes a public consultation exercise and meetings with planning officials in Guangdong. The three streams of work have been concluded. The TDS Review Final Technical Report is being prepared and will be issued in due course.

Sub-regional Development Strategies

These strategies serve as a bridge between the TDS and district plans. They trans- late long-term, broad-brush territorial concepts and goals into district planning objectives for the five sub-regions of Hong Kong the Metro area, North-East New Territories (NENT), South-East New Territories (SENT), North-West New Territories (NWNT) and South-West New Territories (SWNT).

The Metroplan Selected Strategy was approved by the Governor in Council in -1991 as a planning framework for developing and upgrading the Metro sub-region, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, up to the year 2011.

Following the approval of the Metroplan Selected Strategy, steps have been taken to prepare a series of Development Statements to translate the Metroplan concepts into more specific district planning objectives. The Development Statements for West Kowloon, South-East Kowloon and Tsuen Wan-Kwai Tsing were completed and released for public consultation in 1994. The Hong Kong Island West Development Statement was also completed in 1995. Preparation of the Central and East Kowloon Development Statement is expected to be completed in 1996.

Work on the review of the NWNT and SWNT sub-regional development strategies is expected to be completed in 1996. These reviews aim at producing an appropriate land-use, transport and environmental framework to guide the planning and develop- ment of the sub-regions up to 2011. An NWNT (Yuen Long District) Development Statements Study was completed in 1994 to provide a wider district planning context for the preparation of the outline zoning plans for the rural areas of the NWNT. ·

The NENT Development Strategy Review was completed in 1995. A review for the SENT is considered unnecessary at this stage, as the general planning policy of conservation of the countryside 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