ENG-2000 — Page 264

212

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

The integrated planning and development studies for NENT and NWNT have identified Kwu Tung North, Fanling North and Hung Shui Kiu as the next generation new towns and are largely completed.

The draft Recommended Strategy for the SWNT sub-region has incorporated the public opinions, where appropriate, collected during the public consultation exercise. A detailed planning and engineering study for Mui Wo and South Lantau is recommended to investigate the future land use framework for the area with a view to exploring the recreation/tourism opportunities there. The Study on SENT Development Strategy Review recognises the recreation/tourism potential and the landscape/conservation value of the sub-region and aims to formulate a planning and development strategy for it up to 2016 and beyond. The Draft Recommended Development Strategy to enhance Sai Kung as the 'Leisure Garden' of Hong Kong is being finalised for public consultation in early 2001.

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 planning objectives of the districts.

Statutory Planning

The Town Planning Board is set up under the Town Planning Ordinance to prepare statutory plans to show the broad land-use framework of specific areas, including major roads and other transport systems, and provide statutory planning controls through land use zoning and specification of development parameters. Two types of statutory plans are prepared: outline zoning plans (ÖZPs) and development permission area (DPA) plans.

DPA plans are similar to OZPs but they are interim plans covering rural areas of the New Territories and would be eventually replaced by OZPs. Development scheme plans (DSPS) prepared by the Land Development Corporation (LDC) also require approval by the board.

In 2000, three new OZPs and two new DPA plans were published by the board. The board also amended 86 statutory plans. At the end of the year, there were 98 OZPS, five DPA plans and 10 DSPs.

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, any person affected by statutory plans on exhibition for public inspection, including the LDC development scheme plans, may lodge objections with the board. In 2000, 145 objections were lodged with the board. The board gave preliminary consideration to 102 objections and further consideration to 95 objections (including those brought forward from previous years). Draft plans, together with objections not withdrawn and amendments made to meet objections, will be submitted to the Chief Executive in Council (CE in C) for approval. In 2000, 43 statutory plans were submitted to the CE in C for approval. The CE in C also referred 33 approved plans back to the board for amendment.

Attached to each statutory plan is a set of notes indicating the uses in particular zones that are always permitted and those uses for which the board's permission must be sought. In 2000, the board considered 964 applications for planning permission and reviewed its decisions on 65 planning applications.