In preparing and/or updating the Notes for various statutory plans, namely, development permission area (DPA) plans, outline zoning plans (OZPs) and development scheme plans, Planning Department would make reference to the Master Schedule of Notes to Statutory Plans (MSN) and make suitable changes to suit the needs of individual areas.

To keep the MSN up-to-date to meet changing community needs and aspirations, the Town Planning Board (the Board) endorsed a set of revised MSN on 28.2.2003 (with further refinements subsequently endorsed). The revised MSN consists of the covering Notes on the general provisions of the OZPs; a set of user schedules which lists out the uses that are always permitted under Column 1, and uses requiring planning permission from the Board under Column 2 of the Notes for various zones; and remarks which set out the specific development restrictions and other requirements for individual zones.

To allow greater flexibility in the use of land, Broad Use Terms (BUTs) are also introduced to group uses of similar nature and planning implications together. For more systematic presentation and easy understanding, all BUTs and existing use terms are categorized into 18 groups. A set of explanatory notes and a table listing out the 18 groups of BUTs as well as the subsumed uses under each BUT are available at the Board's website for the reference of the general public. The sets of Definitions of Terms (DoTs) used in Statutory Plans (For Areas not Previously Covered by Interim DPA Plans or DPA Plans) and DoTs for Rural Outline Zoning Plans (for Area Previously Covered by Interim DPA Plans or DPA Plans) have also been updated and combined into one set of revised DoTs to explain both the BUTs and some of the terms used in the revised MSN. This set of revised DoTs is also available at the Board's website for the reference of the general public.

All statutory plans currently in force will be suitably amended to reflect the revised MSN when opportunity arises. A list of those statutory plans which have been amended/updated to incorporate the revised MSN is attached below and the revised DoTs should be followed for explanation of the BUTs and the terms used in these statutory plans.

#      List of plans which have been amended / updated

For those statutory plans which have not yet been amended/updated to incorporate the revised MSN, the current sets of DoTs used in Statutory Plans (For Areas not Previously Covered by Interim DPA Plans or DPA Plans) and DoTs for Rural Outline Zoning Plans (for Area Previously Covered by Interim DPA Plans or DPA Plans) would continue to be applicable to them.

The MSN is intended for general reference only. It may be updated and revised from time to time. Statutory planning control applicable to individual area is stipulated in the relevant statutory plan, if any, in force for the specific area. All statutory plans currently in force are viewable from the Board's website under the e-Statutory Plans system.  In case of doubt, clarification should always be sought from the Secretariat of the Board or the Planning Information and Technical Administration Unit of the Planning Department.

1. The Master Schedule of Notes to Statutory Plans (MSN) serves to provide a general framework for preparing and revising the Notes of Outline Zoning Plans (OZPs).

2. The schedule of uses are worked out according to the following principles:

Column 1:

Column 2:

3. Some uses are marked with asterisks in the user schedules as these uses may only be permitted or found in certain areas. They may be added to the Notes where appropriate, taking into account the local circumstances.

4. In drawing up the Notes for individual OZPs, suitable changes to the user schedules, the planning intention and remarks for various zones may be made to meet local requirements. Major variations deviating from the MSN should be highlighted for the Town Planning Board's consideration.