ENG-2013 — Page 237

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Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

examines applications for amending them. Its members, mostly non-government, are appointed by the Chief Executive. In 2013, 26 statutory plans were amended and 12 new Outline Zoning Plans and three new Development Permission Area Plans were published.

Any person may submit to the TPB his or her views on draft statutory plans. In 2013, the TPB examined 23,441 such submissions, 26 statutory plans were submitted to the Chief Executive in Council for approval, and the TPB considered 24 applications for amendments to statutory plans. A set of Notes is attached to each statutory plan, listing the uses permitted in particular zones and those that require the TPB's permission. In 2013, the TPB considered 707 applications for planning permission, 594 applications for amendments to the approved schemes, and also reviewed its decisions on 77 applications.

Applicants aggrieved by the TPB's decisions may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal Board. In 2013, the Appeal Board heard six cases, of which two were allowed, two were dismissed, one was abandoned by the appellant during hearing and one is awaiting decision. The TPB also promulgates guidelines for statutory planning. At the end of 2013, there were 32 sets of guidelines.

Planning Enforcement

The Town Planning Ordinance provides the Planning Authority with enforcement powers to tackle 'unauthorised developments' (UDs) in Development Permission Areas. The Planning Authority may serve statutory notices on the respective landowners, occupiers and/or responsible persons, requiring them to stop or discontinue a UD within a specified time. Subsequently, a further statutory notice may be served to require the site to be reinstated. Non- compliance is a statutory offence.

In 2013, 393 new UDs, including unauthorised open storage, workshops, vehicle parks and land/ pond fillings, were discovered and 3,292 warning letters or reminders (involving 628 cases), 1,730 enforcement notices (involving 305 cases), 445 reinstatement notices (involving 85 cases) and 1,746 compliance notices (involving 324 cases) were issued. A total of 119 defendants in 45 cases were convicted. The enforcement and prosecution actions resulted in the discontinuation of 185 UDs on 31 hectares of land. Another 49 UDS occupying 13 hectares of land were regularised through the planning application system.

Cross-boundary Planning and Development

The government maintains close liaison with the Guangdong and Shenzhen authorities on planning matters through the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference and Hong Kong/Shenzhen Co-operation Meeting. Cross-boundary surveys are commissioned regularly to collect statistical information on various aspects of cross-boundary activities, such as travel patterns and characteristics, and Hong Kong people's experience of, and aspirations to, taking up residence in the mainland of China. The findings help in planning cross-boundary infrastructure and formulating development strategies.

The joint planning study on 'Action Plan for the Bay Area of the Pearl River Estuary' commissioned by the Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong Governments to devise proposals

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