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Draft Discovery Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved

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The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Discovery Bay Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within Discovery Bay," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 21).

The Planning Scheme Area of the approved OZP, covering about 810 hectares, is located in the eastern part of Lantau Island. It is mainly bounded by the proposed Lantau North (Extension) Country Park in the north, west and south, and Tai Pak Wan in the east. Further east lies Peng Chau, while about 4 kilometres to the northeast is Hongkong Disneyland, which is under construction in Penny's Bay.

The population of the area was about 15,600 in 2001. With regard to the character of the area, environmental considerations and existing and planned infrastructure, the approved OZP provides for a planned total population of about 25,000 people in the Discovery Bay development and 200 people in the rural settlements upon full development.

The planning intention is primarily to conserve the natural setting of the area and to allow compatible low-density development which provides for a mix of residential and recreational uses. It adopts the urban design concept of maintaining a car-free and low-density environment while concentrating commercial, major community and open space facilities at more accessible locations. One activity node has been earmarked for each of the ferry piers in Tai Pak Wan and Yi Pak Wan. A stepped-height approach has been adopted, with low-rise development foreseen for the headland and coastal lowland and high-rise development for the inland.

About 101ha are zoned "Residential (Group C)" for low-density housing development compatible with the sub-urban character. This zoning covers the existing and proposed residential areas in the Discovery Bay development in Tai Pak and Yi Pak.

Another 7ha are zoned "Residential (Group D)" to encourage improvement and upgrading of existing temporary domestic structures and houses at Nim Shue Wan and Cheung Sha Lan. In this zone, very low-rise and low-density development may be permitted on application to the Town Planning Board.

About 188ha are zoned "Other Specified Uses" for uses such as commercial complex cum residential development, hotel, golf course, marina, sports and recreation club, staff quarters, petrol station, service area and reservoir, etc.

Some 10ha are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC") to demarcate existing and reserved sites for major G/IC facilities serving the needs of the local residents as well as visitors.

About 11ha are zoned "Open Space" to cover the existing beach in Tai Pak and the proposed central park and waterfront promenade at Yi Pak. The fringe areas covering 167ha in the central and southern parts are zoned "Green Belt".

The uplands in the west and north covering about 241ha are zoned "Conservation Area" to define the limit of development and to protect the natural landscape.

With a total area of about 13ha, the mangrove area at Yi Pak and the coastal areas at Tai Pak, Sam Pak and Sze Pak are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to protect the natural coastlines and coastal features.

Part of the proposed Lantau North (Extension) Country Park covering about 63ha is zoned "Country Park". All uses within this zone are subject to the provisions of the Country Parks Ordinance.

The approved Discovery Bay OZP No. S/I-DB/2 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the following locations:

* Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road;

* Lantau and Islands District Planning Office, 15/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road;

* Islands District Office, 20/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central.

Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. An electronic version can be seen on the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

End/Friday, March 21, 2003

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