Draft So Kwun Wat Outline Zoning Plan approved
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     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft So Kwun Wat Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within the So Kwun Wat area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (May 6).

     The planning scheme area, covering about 473.6 hectares of land, is located to the southeast of Tuen Mun New Town. It is bounded to the north and the east by the dam of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir and Tai Lam Country Park, to the south by Castle Peak Road and the coast, to the west and southwest by Tuen Mun New Town.

     About 6.5 hectares of land located on the eastern side of Tai Lam Chung Nullah is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" for comprehensive sub-urban residential development and village housing.

     About 4.4 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group B)" to reflect the existing residential developments of Grand Pacific Heights and Grand Pacific Views at Siu Lam. A total of 22.1 hectares of land at Siu Lam and to the southwest of Siu Lam is zoned "Residential (Group C)" to reflect existing and committed low-rise, low-density residential developments and to reserve land for future sub-urban residential developments with ancillary supporting facilities.

     Some 32.3 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development", which includes recognised villages in the area such as So Kwun Wat Tsuen, So Kwun Wat San Tsuen, Tai Lam Chung Tsuen, Wong Uk and Wu Uk.

     About 65.8 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community". The major existing uses in this category include the Tai Lam Correctional Institution, Siu Lam Hospital, Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, Siu Lam and Tai Lam Chung Fresh Water Service Reservoirs, Maritime Services Training Institute, Customs and Excise Training School, Highways Department's Maintenance Depot, Tai Lam Chung Fire Station, ex-Tai Lam Chung Public School, Wai Lan Rehabilitation Centre and Bauhinia House.

     About 0.8 hectares of land, along the eastern side of Tai Lam Chung Nullah, intended to be developed into a promenade, is zoned "Open Space". A site, about 0.1 hectares, to the southwest of Siu Lam is zoned "Other Specified Uses" and annotated "Petrol Filling Station" to reflect its existing use.

     About 310.8 hectares of land covering foothills, lower hill slopes, spurs, isolated knolls, woodland, traditional burial ground or vegetated land is zoned "Green Belt" to define the limits of urban and sub-urban development areas and to provide passive recreational outlets.

     The approved So Kwun Wat OZP No. S/TM-SKW/11 is available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Planning Office, the Tuen Mun District Office, and the Tuen Mun Rural Committee.

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

Ends/Friday, May 6, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:37

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