*********************************************************
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Ping Chau Development Permission Area (DPA) Plan.
"The approved DPA Plan provides planning guidance and facilitates development control within the Ping Chau area during the period required for detailed analysis of the land use pattern, study of infrastructural provisions and examination of development options for the formulation of an outline zoning plan (OZP)," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 20).
The DPA Plan covers about 28.91 hectares of Ping Chau Island in Mirs Bay. The DPA is part of the Ping Chau Site of Special Scientific Interest designated in 1979 to protect its unique sedimentary rock landscape, and is surrounded by Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park and Tung Ping Chau Marine Park.
The general planning intention for the DPA is to conserve areas of high landscape and geological significance, to protect its unique landscape character and to maintain the rural and natural character of the area. The planning intention is also to reflect the existing recognised villages of the area, namely Ping Chau Chau Mei, Ping Chau Tai Tong, Ping Chau Chau Tau and Ping Chau Sha Tau.
A total of 2.15 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" to reflect the existing recognised villages. The remaining 26.76 hectares of the DPA are designated as "Unspecified Use" pending detailed analysis and studies to establish appropriate land uses in the course of the preparation of an OZP.
The approved Ping Chau DPA Plan No. DPA/NE-PC/2 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, the Tai Po District Office and the Sai Kung North Rural Committee.
Copies of the approved DPA 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 at the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
Ends/Friday, March 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:04
NNNN