Ma Tau Kok Outline Zoning Plan approved
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     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the Ma Tau Kok Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within the Ma Tau Kok area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (November 14).

     The Planning Scheme Area of the Ma Tau Kok OZP, covering about 139 hectares of land, is located in Central Kowloon within the Kowloon City Administration District.  It is bounded by Tung Tau Tsuen Road and Tung Tsing Road to the north; To Kwa Wan Road and Yuk Yat Street to the east; Ngan Hon Street and San Lau Street to the south; and Tin Kwong Road to the west.  The Area is one of the earliest developed urban areas in Kowloon, which has been substantially developed for public housing, private residential and industrial uses.

     Most of the existing private and public residential developments in the Area fall with the "Residential (Group A)" ("R(A)") (44.17 hectares) zone.  The Ma Tau Kok Gas Works (North Plant) site at To Kwa Wan Road and Ma Tau Kok Road and the former Tin Kwong Road Police Married Quarters site at Tin Kwong Road and Sheung Shing Street are proposed for private residential use upon redevelopment.  While the "Residential (Group B)" ("R(B)") (8.93 hectares) includes mainly the existing and proposed medium-density residential developments along Argyle Street, Prince Edward Road West and Grampian Road.  To encourage the phasing out of existing obsolete industrial uses, industrial sites at Yuk Yat Street, Chi Kiang Street, Sheung Heung Road and To Kwa Wan Road are zoned "Residential (Group E)" ("R(E)") (3.2 hectares).  Under the "R(E)" zoning, planning permission for residential development is required in order to address the potential industrial/residential interface problems in the redevelopment process.

     In addition, the sites bounded by Sung Wong Toi Road, Kowloon City Road, Ma Tau Kok Road and To Kwa Wan Road are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA") (5.67 hectares) to facilitate comprehensive redevelopment for residential uses with retail and Government, institution or community (GIC) facilities, as well as to phase out existing industrial activities.  An existing hotel at Sa Po Road and two existing industrial buildings at Ma Tau Wai Road are zoned "Commercial" ("C") (0.4 hectare) and are intended to provide for office, retail and hotel uses.

     To provide land for various GIC facilities to serve the needs of residents in the Area and those in the adjoining areas, about 8.99 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC").  Major existing GIC facilities include a divisional fire station and ambulance depot at Shing Tak Street, To Kwa Wan Government Complex, Kowloon City Municipal Services Building, schools, electricity substations and telephone exchanges.  To provide land for both active and passive recreational uses, about 21.84 hectares of land are zoned "Open Space" ("O").  Existing open spaces include the Kowloon Walled City Park, Carpenter Road Park, To Kwa Wan Recreation Ground, Sung Wong Toi Garden, Ma Tau Wai Road Playground, Ko Shan Road Park and Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.  The eastern part of the former Ma Tau Kok Animal Quarantine Depot site bounded by Ma Tau Kok Road and San Shan Road is reserved for open space use.

     About 1.46 hectares of land are zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") for the Hong Kong Softball Association Recreation Ground at Tin Kwong Road and the Kowloon City Plaza at Carpenter Road.  

     The approved Ma Tau Kok OZP No. S/K10/20 is available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of Planning Department, the Kowloon District Planning Office and the Kowloon City District Office.

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

Ends/Friday, November 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:30

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