************************************************
The Chief Executive in Council approved the draft Kau Lung Hang Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Kau Lung Hang area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (October 10).
The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 251 hectares of land, is located in the North East New Territories on the northwestern boundary of Tai Po New Town. It is bounded by Lam Tsuen River and Hong Lok Yuen Road to the south, the southern boundary of the North District to the north, and the steep slopes of Kau Lung Hang Shan (Cloudy Hill) and Pak Tai To Yan to the east and west respectively.
A substantial portion of the area falls within the upper indirect water gathering ground, while the remainder falls within the Flood Pumping Area. Developments which could generate waste and pollutants would be strictly controlled to protect the water resources.
The planning intention is to retain the rural character of the area by controlling development and promoting agricultural activities, and to allow village expansion only in appropriate areas.
About 94.7 hectares of good agricultural land and land with potential for rehabilitation is zoned "Agriculture".
A total of 68.4 hectares is zoned "Village Type Development" to demarcate existing recognised villages and areas suitable for village expansion. Some 3.3 hectares to the west of Wai Tau Tsuen are zoned "Residential (Group D)" to encourage improvements or redevelopment that would turn temporary houses into permanent, properly designed houses.
About 3.4 hectares near Nam Wa Po Village and Kiu Tau are zoned "Open Storage" ("OS") to cater for the continuing demand for open storage and regularise the existing open storage uses.
A total of 49 hectares is zoned "Green Belt" ("GB") to define the limits of urban development and provide passive recreational outlets.
About 6.4 hectares is zoned "Other Specified Uses" covering the land presently used by the railway track between Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) Tai Wo Station and KCR Fanling Station. To serve local and district needs, 10.9 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community".
The approved Kau Lung Hang OZP No. S/NE-KLH/7 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the following locations:
* Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point;
* Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, Planning Department, 13rd Floor, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin;
* Tai Po District Office, Ground Floor, Tai Po Government Offices, 1 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po; and
* Tai Po Rural Committee, Ground Floor, 1 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po.
Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be seen on the Town Planning Board's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb.
End/Friday, October 10, 2003
NNNN
