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The Town Planning Board (the Board) has agreed to propose amendments to the General Notes of all rural outline zoning plans (OZPs) by extending the planning permission period for temporary uses from 12 months to a maximum of 3 years.

A spokesman for the Board explained that there has been a significant increase in the number of planning applications for temporary uses in the rural areas, in particular open storage and port back-up uses, in the past few years.

"In view of the fact that the 12-month approval period may not provide sufficient incentive for the applicants to implement the approval conditions, the Board has agreed that the temporary approval period be extended from 12 months to a maximum period of 3 years.

"Based on individual merits of each application, the Board will determine the exact period for the planning permission to be granted," he said.

The Board also considers that the open storage and port back-up uses will cause adverse environmental impacts on the environmentally/ecologically sensitive areas. Such kinds of temporary uses will therefore be prohibited in "Site of Special Scientific Interest", "Conservation Area" and "Coastal Protection Area" zones.

"To exercise proper control and monitor the compliance of planning conditions, a clause will be included in future approval of planning applications to the effect that if the planning conditions are not complied with within a specified period, the planning permission will be revoked automatically," he said.

The extension of approval period would be effective when amendments to the General Notes of the rural OZPs are published for public inspection under the Town Planning Ordinance.

The rural OZPs would be amended in batches and priority would be given to those OZPs covering areas where there are strong demand for open storage and port back-up uses.

The TPB Guidelines for Application for Open Storage and Port Back-up Uses (TPB PG-No.13) has also been amended to incorporate the Board's intention and will be announced in due course.

End/Monday, March 22, 1999

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