Electronic Planning Application Submission System (EPASS)

• Electronic Planning Application Submission System (EPASS)

Introduction

The EPASS is intended to provide an additional channel for the public to make planning/review applications under sections 12A, 16, 16A(2) and 17 of the Town Planning Ordinance (the Ordinance) and the subsequent submission of further information (FI) on these applications online to the Town Planning Board in electronic format.

Manner, Format and Procedure for Electronic Submission to the Town Planning Board via EPASS

(1)	The e-submission should conform to the prescribed manner, format and procedure stipulated in the Gazette Notice made under section 11(2) of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
(2)	The electronic form (e-form) must be signed with valid digital signature(s) which has to be supported by a recognized certificate issued by certification authorities recognized by the Government Chief Information Officer under the ETO. Further details on digital certificate are available at the website of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer at www.ogcio.gov.hk.

(3) The submission should be:

• Made in the Specified e-form and submitted through the EPASS;
• Not exceeding 10 MB in size (including the e-form and all attachments); and
• Not exceeding 20 number of pages (including the e-form, and attached plans and supplementary documents but excluding the particulars of applicant and authorized agent as well as the checklist of documents*)

* No page limit for documents relating to landownership record, landowner’s consent, request for landowner’s consent and notification to landowner. The documents should be compiled in one ‘Adobe Portable Document Format’ (pdf) file attachment for plans/drawings and other supplementary documents, and another pdf attachment for landownership record, landowner’s consent, request for landowner’s consent and notification to landowner to the e-form.
 

(4) The attachment(s) to the e-form should be:

• in “Adobe Portable Document Format”;
• in font size not smaller than 12 for the text (except those in the footnotes, footers, headers, tables and drawings); and
• in pages not larger than A3.
   

Any intended e-submission other than by the aforesaid prescribed format and/or exceeding the file size and/or page restrictions will not be accepted by the EPASS. Such submissions should be sent to “Secretary, Town Planning Board, 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong” by hand or by post in accordance with the requirements specified in the Guidance Notes for the planning applications. Hybrid submission of applications, i.e. making e-submission and hard copy submission by hand or by post for an application at the same time, will not be accepted.

The applicant could appoint an agent to submit an application on his/her behalf. If the application is submitted by an agent, a true copy of an authorization letter signed by the applicant should be submitted separately to the Secretary, Town Planning Board by hand or by post together with a printout of the “Acknowledgement of Submission” for identification purpose.

For coloured plans and drawings attached to the e-submission, they will be printed in black and white and in A4 size for processing of the application. Applicants who want their applications to be processed with coloured copies and the paper size submitted, sufficient hard copies (70 copies for section 12A application and section 16 application, 90 copies for section 17 review application, and 12 copies for section 16A (2) application)# of the plans and drawings should be submitted separately by hand or by post to the Secretary, Town Planning Board together with a printout of the “Acknowledgement of Submission” for identification purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, only the hard copies of those coloured plans and drawings that have been submitted via the e-submission system will be accepted.

 

# Number of copies required for applications is applicable to their corresponding FIs. If considered necessary, additional copies may be required by Town Planning Board.

Types of E-Submission That Can Be Made via EPASS

E-submission of planning application, review application and further information for planning/review applications can be made by completing and submitting the following relevant e-form via the EPASS:

(1)	E-Submission for No. S12A (Amendment of Plan under section 12A of the Town Planning Ordinance (TPO))
(2)	E-Submission for No. S16-I, No. S16-II and No. S16-III (Planning Application under section 16 of the TPO)
(3)	E-Submission for No. S16A (Application of Amendment to Permission under section 16A(2) of the TPO)
(4)	E-Submission for No. S17 (Application for Review under section 17 of the TPO)
(5)	E-Submission for Further Information

 

The correct e-form should be used for the corresponding planning/review application or submission of FI. Use of a wrong or outdated e-form may delay the application process or lead to refusal of application.

 

System Requirements for Using the E-Submission

(1) Applicants should note that the following operation system/software supports the On-Line Service of the Town Planning Board:

• Microsoft Windows Vista and/or above
• Mac OS X v10.6.4, v10.7.2, or v10.8
• Adobe Reader DC or Adobe Acrobat DC or above
• QuickTime 7.7.5 or above. QuickTime can be downloaded at －http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
• Browsers including IE 8, FireFox 13, Chrome 19, Safari 5.1.7 and/or above. For correct display of Chinese Characters in browsers, the computer must be able to display the Big-5 or ISO10646 character sets with "the Hong Kong Supplementary Character Set (HKSCS)" published by the HKSAR Government. Please visit the following website for more information on HKSCS: Hong Kong Supplementary Character Set (HKSCS)

 

(2) Applicants should have a valid electronic mail account for receiving messages from the On-Line Submission

(3) Applicants should use the Adobe Acrobat Reader XI software or above which can be downloaded free of charge here, to read and fill in the PDF e-forms. For correct display and input of Chinese Characters in Adobe Reader, Traditional Chinese version is recommended. Chinese Traditional Font Packs should be installed for non-Chinese version －http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/acrrasianfontpack.html.

Demonstration on the E-Submission Process

For video demonstration please visit the video help page.

Checking on the E-Submission

All e-submissions will be checked by the Town Planning Board Secretariat. The applicant may be required to verify any matters or particulars set out or included in the application. Upon checking, if it is found that the applicant fails to provide the required particulars and/or sufficient copies of documents where appropriate, and/or if there is irregularity in the submission, the Town Planning Board may refuse to process his/her application. The date of receipt of application will be the date when the Town Planning Board Secretariat has finished checking the submission and all necessary information and documents are received.

Related Documents

Town Planning Board Guidance Notes.

Town Planning Board Guidelines.

Enquiry

Frequently asked questions on the E-submission via EPASS FAQ.

If further information or assistance is required, please contact the Planning Enquiry Counters (PEC) of the Planning Department (Hotline: 2231 5000) (17/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong and 14/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories)

Electronic Forms

 

E-Form No.S12A	Amendment of Plan under Section 12A	Download
E-Form No.S16-I	Applicable to proposals not involving or not only involving: Construction of “New Territories Exempted House(s)”; Temporary use/development of land and/or building not exceeding 3 years in rural areas; and Renewal of permission for temporary use or development in rural areas	Download
E-Form No.S16-II	Applicable to Proposal Only Involving Construction of “New Territories Exempted House(s)”	Download
E-Form No.S16-III	Applicable to Proposal Only Involving Temporary Use/Development of Land and/or Building Not Exceeding 3 Years in Rural Areas or Renewal of Permission for such Temporary Use or Development* *E-form No. S16-I should be used for other Temporary Use/Development of Land and/or Building (e.g. temporary use/developments in the Urban Area)and Renewal of Permission for such Temporary Use or Development.	Download
E-Form No.S16A	Application for Amendment to Permission under Section 16A(2)	Download
E-Form No.S17	Application for Review under Section 17	Download
E-Form for Further Information	Submission of Further Information to support the application	Download

Submit Application >>