Draft Shouson Hill and Repulse Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved
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     The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Shouson Hill and Repulse Bay Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP is to establish a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Shouson Hill and Repulse Bay area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (October 16).

     The Planning Scheme Area (the Area) of the Shouson Hill and Repulse Bay OZP, covering an area of about 440 hectares, is situated at the southern part of Hong Kong Island and bounded by the Aberdeen Country Park and Tai Tam Country Park to the north and east respectively, Wong Chuk Hang Road and the Aberdeen Tunnel to the west, and Middle Island and several bays to the south.

     The Area is characterised by well-wooded slopes, low-density residential developments and well-known bathing beaches including the Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay which form a recreational asset for the whole territory. Some high-rise buildings are located along the landward side of Repulse Bay Road and in the valley behind Middle Bay.

     Most residential developments within the Area are zoned "Residential (Group C)" ("R(C)") covering about 73.2 hectares of land. With a view to preserving public views and the existing amenity and character of the Area as well as avoiding overburdening the access road system and excessive development, the "R(C)" zoning is sub-divided into nine sub-areas subject to different building height, plot ratio and site coverage restrictions.

     The residential developments on the landward side of Repulse Bay Road and in the valley behind Middle Bay are zoned "Residential (Group B)" covering about 21.2 hectares of land. To maintain the existing character of the Area and to ensure that it will not be overdeveloped in relation to the capacity of the road and public utility systems, developments are subject to specific plot ratio and site coverage restrictions.

     To serve the local residents and beach-goers, three existing local shopping centres, one in Shouson Hill and two in Repulse Bay, are zoned "Commercial" covering a total area of about 0.6 hectares.

     A total of about 6.7 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to serve the local needs. About 17.5 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air space for active and passive recreational uses for the local residents and visitors.

     Sites allocated for various specific uses area are zoned "Other Specified Uses" and covering about 10.2 hectares of land. They include the existing golf course and club in Deep Water Bay, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club on Middle Island, a historical building preserved for restaurant and retail uses near Repulse Bay, the Seaview building and ex-Lido site in Repulse Bay.

     The hillslopes in the Area and most part of Middle Island are zoned "Green Belt" covering 263 hectares. About 10.5 hectares of land densely covered by valuable native broad-leaves trees and rare flora is zoned "Site of Special Scientific Interest". The undeveloped areas of natural coastlines with attractive coastal features in the Area are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" covering 8.9 hectares. With an area of about 2.5 hectares, the "Country Park" zone covers parts of the Aberdeen Country Park and Tai Tam Country Park falling within the Area.

     The approved Shouson Hill and Repulse Bay OZP No. S/H17/11 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department, the Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Southern 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 viewed at the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, October 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:15

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