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The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Lamma Island Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment in the Lamma Island area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (January 16).
The planning scheme area, covering about 1,420 hectares, comprises Lamma Island and Luk Chau. It includes about 0.37 hectares of land to be reclaimed at Yung Shue Wan, about 4 hectares of sea adjacent to the jetties of the existing Lamma Island Power Station, and about 4 hectares of beach and shallow shore covered by the Sham Wan Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The planning intention is to conserve the natural landscape, the rural character and car-free environment of Lamma Island; to retain Luk Chau in its natural state; and to enhance the role of Lamma Island as a leisure destination.
About 7.73 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group C)" for low-rise, low-density residential developments. About 1.99 hectares of land is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" for comprehensive development/redevelopment of the area for low-rise, low-density residential use with the provision of open space and other supporting facilities.
About 0.09 hectare is zoned "Commercial" for low-rise commercial developments while about 68.43 hectares are zoned "Village Type Development" to provide land for the retention of existing village areas.
A total of about 6.17 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" for the provision of a wide range of government, institutional and community facilities.
Some 7.51 hectares are designated "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air public space for active and passive recreational activities.
About 111.89 hectares are zoned "Other Specified Uses". These include Lamma Island Power Station, boat anchorage, sewage treatment works, refuse transfer station, sand depot, liquefied petroleum gas cylinder store and piers.
The ex-Lamma Quarry site covering an area of about 34.27 hectares is zoned "Undetermined" pending detailed consideration of the appropriate uses.
About 37.02 hectares are zoned "Agriculture" to retain and safeguard good quality agricultural land/farm/fish ponds for agricultural purposes and retain fallow arable land with good potential for rehabilitation for cultivation and other agricultural purposes.
A total of 331.69 hectares are zoned "Green Belt". The planning intention is primarily for defining the limits of development areas, to preserve existing well-wooded hill slopes and other natural features, as well as to provide passive recreational outlets for the local population and visitors.
Moreover, some 106.4 and 361.58 hectares of land are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" and "Conservation Area" respectively to conserve, protect and retain the natural landscape and the sensitive natural environment.
A total of about 340.93 hectares of land is zoned "Site of Special Scientific Interest" to conserve the two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the area, i.e. the South Lamma Island SSSI with rare tree species in the hilltop and the surrounding uplands and cliffs which provide important habitat for a bird population of rare species and the Sham Wan SSSI which is the only known nesting site for green turtles in Hong Kong.
The approved Lamma Island OZP No. S/I-LI/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 in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Islands District Office, the Lamma Island (North) Rural Committee and the Lamma Island (South) 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 at the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
Ends/Friday, January 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:01
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