ENG-2015 — Page 227

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

conservation policy and initiatives, drawn up in response to public aspirations, aim to facilitate active public involvement in protecting local heritage.

Planning

Strategic Planning

Strategic land use planning in Hong Kong has a long history, and the last review on territorial development strategy, entitled 'Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy, was completed and promulgated in 2007. The government is carrying out an exercise to update the strategy, namely 'Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030, which will seek to examine the strategies and feasible options for overall spatial planning, as well as land and infrastructure development beyond 2030, in order to plan for a liveable high-density city, embrace new economic challenges and opportunities, and create capacity for sustainable growth.

Town Planning Board

The Town Planning Board (TPB), established under the Town Planning Ordinance, oversees the preparation and review of statutory plans and considers planning applications. In 2015, it amended 26 statutory plans and published five new Outline Zoning Plans and one new Development Permission Area Plan.

Any person may submit views on draft statutory plans to the TPB. In 2015, the TPB examined 93,563 such submissions and filed 41 statutory plans with the Chief Executive in Council for approval. It also considered 87 applications for amendments to statutory plans, 1,187 applications for planning permission and 490 applications for amendments to the approved schemes, and reviewed the decisions of its Planning Committees on 74 applications.

Applicants aggrieved by the TPB's decisions may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal Board. In 2015, the appeal board heard eight cases, of which four were dismissed, two were allowed, one was adjourned and one is awaiting the decision. The TPB also promulgates guidelines for statutory planning. At the end of 2015, there were 32 sets of guidelines.

Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines

The Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines provide the criteria for determining the scale, location and site requirements of various land uses and facilities applicable to planning studies, town plans and development control. These are reviewed from time to time to take account of changes in government policies, demographic characteristics, and social and economic trends. During the year, chapters on recreation, open space and greening, utility services and urban design guidelines were revised.

Cross-Boundary Planning and Development

The government maintains close liaison with Mainland authorities, particularly Guangdong and Shenzhen. Cross-boundary surveys are commissioned regularly to collect statistical information. on cross-boundary activities, such as travel patterns and characteristics and Hong Kong people's

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