Draft Mau Ping Outline Zoning Plan approved
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     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Mau Ping Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Mau Ping area,"  a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (September 18).

     The planning scheme area, covering about 45 hectares, is an upland valley surrounded by the Ma On Shan Country Park, about mid-way between Sai Kung area to the southeast and the Ma On Shan area to the northwest.

     The general planning intention of the area is to protect its high conservation and landscape value, which complements the overall naturalness and the landscape beauty of the surrounding Ma On Shan Country Park. It is also intended to reflect the existing recognised villages of Mau Ping and Wong Chuk Shan.

     About 0.81 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" to designate both existing recognised village and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion.

     About 44.45 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. The "Conservation Area" zoning covers the woodlands which are natural in character and are ecologically linked with Ma On Shan Country Park, and protected plant species, as well as a number of animal species of conservation interest that have been recorded in the area.

     The approved Mau Ping OZP No. S/ST-MP/2 is 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 Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office; the Sha Tin District Office; and the Sha Tin and Sai Kung Rural Committees.

     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, September 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:03

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