Draft Tai O Fringe Outline Zoning Plan gazetted
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     The Town Planning Board today (May 24) announced the publication of the draft Tai O Fringe Outline Zoning Plan.

     The planning scheme area covers about 186.62 hectares. It is bounded by the Lantau North Country Park in the east and south, and natural coastline in the north and west. It includes a major part of Tai O Island which is separated by Tai O River from Lantau Island.

     A spokesman for the Town Planning Board said the general planning intention is to conserve the areas of high ecological significance, to protect the rural and natural character as well as to maintain the unique landscape character and cultural heritage of the area. To cater for the existing villages, land is also reserved for Small House development by indigenous villagers.

     A total of about 6.57 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" to reflect existing recognised and other villages, and to provide land considered suitable for village expansion.

     About 3.8 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to provide Government, institution or community facilities serving the needs of the local residents and/or a wider district, region or the territory. These facilities include existing temples and toilets, a water treatment works, a service reservoir, a sewage pumping station, a drug addiction treatment centre and an automatic weather station.

     About 0.75 hectares of land including sitting-out areas, a children's playground and a public promenade are zoned "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents as well as the general public.

     To reflect their specified uses, about 3.25 hectares of land are zoned "Other Specified Uses" for the Tai O Cemetery, the Tai O Barracks and a sewage treatment works.

     About 1.16 hectares of land are zoned "Undetermined" to retain part of an area to the east of Sun Ki Street intended for the "Salt Panning Demonstration Area" to promote heritage education and visitor attractions of Tai O.

     To define the limits of development areas by natural features and to preserve the existing topography and natural vegetation, about 124.47 hectares of land are zoned "Green Belt". Areas adjoining Lantau North Country Park and other areas covered with fallow agricultural land, hillslopes, natural vegetations and small streams are under this zone.

     About 36.58 hectares of land are zoned "Conservation Area" to protect and retain the existing natural landscape, ecological or topographical features of the area for conservation, educational and research purposes and to separate sensitive natural environment such as Country Park from the adverse effects of development. Tai O Reedbed and the Tai O Mangrove Replanting Area are included within this zone.

     About 6.71 hectares of land are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to conserve, protect and retain the natural coastlines and the sensitive coastal environment, including the unique rocky feature known as Old Man Rock.

     The draft Tai O Fringe Outline Zoning Plan is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Islands District Office and the Tai O Rural Committee.

     Any person may make written representations in respect of the draft plan to the Secretary of the Board on or before July 24.

     Copies of the draft plan 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 Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, May 24, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:00

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