Draft Kwun Yam Shan and Fa Sam Hang Outline Zoning Plan

**************************************************

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Kwun Yam Shan and Fa Sam Hang Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to retain the existing natural character and agricultural land of the area.

The OZP covers a total area of about 123 hectares (ha) with a population of about 680 persons. Upon full development, it is estimated that the population would increase to about 1,800 persons.

About 59.25 ha (48.33 per cent of the total land area) is zoned "Conservation Area" to retain the existing natural character and conserve areas with topographical features and dense vegetation. This zone mainly covers the woodlands around Mau Tso Ngam, Kong Pui Tsuen, Kwun Yam Shan Village, Mau Tat, Tui Tso Ngam and Fa Sam Hang.

About 27.78 ha (22.66 per cent) is zoned "Agriculture" to retain good agricultural land and fallow arable land with good potential for rehabilitation for agricultural purposes. It mainly covers Lo Shue Tin, Fu Yung Pei, Mau Tso Ngam, Mau Tat and the area around Kwun Yam Shan Village and Fa Sam Hang Village.

Some 24.78 ha (20.21 per cent) is zoned "Green Belt". This zone is intended for natural conservation and serves to define the limits of village development areas. It covers the hillslopes around Shap Yi Wat, the slopes below Tsz Wan Shan Television Transmitting Station and the spur to the north of the Gilwell Scouts Camp site.

Another 7.54 ha (6.15 per cent) is zoned "Village Type Development", which is intended to demarcate both existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion. The zone covers the villages at Shap Yi Wat, Mau Tat, Kong Pui Tsuen, Tso Tui Ha, Kwun Yam Shan Village, Fu Yung Pei, Mau Tso Ngam and Fa Sam Hang.

The "Government/Institution/Community" zone for the provision of GIC facilities occupies about 1.83 ha (1.49 per cent). This zone covers the Gilwell Scouts Camp to the south of Mau Tso Ngam.

About 0.79 ha (0.65 per cent) is zoned "Other Specified Uses". The television transmitting station at Tsz Wan Shan falls within this zone.

Another 0.63 ha (0.51 per cent) is zoned "Country Park" ("CP"). To form a more rational planning boundary for a few fragmented pieces of private land at Shap Yi Wat, their adjacent areas within the Lion Rock Country Park are included in this "CP" zone.

The approved OZP (No. S/ST-KYS/2) is now available for public inspection at the following venues:

* Planning Department, 15th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong;

* Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, Ground Floor, Sha Tin Government Offices, 6 Tung Lo Wan Hill Road, Tai Wai, New Territories; and

* Sha Tin District Office, 6th Floor, Citylink Plaza, 1 Sha Tin Station Circuit.

Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Survey and Mapping Office, Map Publications Centre (Hong Kong), 23rd Floor, North Point Government Offices and the Survey and Mapping Office, Map Publications Centre (Kowloon), Ground Floor, 382 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei.

End/Friday, November 20, 1998

NNNN