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The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (November 23) announced amendments to the approved Causeway Bay Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The major amendments to the OZP involve the rezoning of four "Residential (Group B)" ("R(B)") sites in Tai Hang to appropriate zonings. These include the rezoning of the Wang Fung Terrace area at Tai Hang Road and 53-55 Tai Hang Road from "R(B)" to "Residential (Group C)" ("R(C)") so as to preserve the low-rise low-density character of the residential area and to avoid overloading the local road network.

The Tiger Balm Garden site between Tai Hang Road and Tai Hang Drive is rezoned from "R(B)" to "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated "Residential Development with Historical Site Preserved In-situ" to better reflect the intention for residential development with the Haw Par Mansion preserved in-situ.

The fourth "R(B)" site at 50A-C to 54 Tai Hang Road is rezoned to "Residential (Group B)1" ("R(B)1") to reflect the medium-rise character of the existing and committed developments.

Other major amendments involve the stipulation of building height and/or plot ratio restrictions on land designated "R(B)" and "R(B)1" and building height restriction on land designated "R(C)". The Notes for these zones have also been amended to incorporate the provision for minor relaxation of the stated building height restriction(s) and exemption of certain uses and facilities from plot ratio calculation.

A new set of Notes for the "OU" annotated "Residential Development with Historical Site Preserved In-situ" zone has also been incorporated.

In addition, the covering Notes of the OZP have been amended to implement the Board's decision on June 22, 2001 with a view to clarifying the Board's intention with respect to "existing use" in the urban context and to defining the scope of "existing use".

The Notes of the "Commercial/Residential" zone have been amended to permit as of right educational institution in a commercial building or in the non-domestic part of a commercial/residential building.

The draft plan No. S/H6/10 incorporating the amendments is now available for public inspection at the Secretariat of the Board and Hong Kong District Planning Office in North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road; and Wan Chai District Office, Ground Floor, 2 O'Brien Road.

Any person affected by the amendments may submit a written objection to the Secretary of the Board on or before January 23, 2002.

Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point.

End/Friday, November 23, 2001

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