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The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Tai Tam & Shek O Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment of the Tai Tam & Shek O area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (January 21).
The Planning Scheme Area of the Tai Tam & Shek O OZP, covering about 1,119 hectares, is basically bounded by Tai Tam Country Park to the west, Chai Wan to the north, Tai Tam Bay to the south, and Big Wave Bay and Island Bay to the east.
The Area is relatively undeveloped except along the section of Tai Tam Road north of Stanley, the Red Hill area and Shek O. The Area has a high amenity value and is a very important recreational area in Hong Kong. About 50% of the Area falls within the Shek O Country Park.
Most residential developments within the Area are zoned "Residential (Group C)" ("R(C)") covering about 31 hectares of land. Two existing medium-density residential developments at Tai Tam Road near the American Recreation Club are zoned "Residential (Group B)" covering about three hectares of land. Developments within these two zones are subject to plot ratio and site coverage restrictions to preserve public views, existing character of the area as well as to avoid overtaxing the limited road capacity and utility services.
The "R(C)" zone is further divided into six sub-areas, each with its own height restriction. The Shek O Village, covering about 2 hectares, is zoned "Village Type Development" ("V"). To ensure that future development or redevelopment within the Shek O Village would be compatible with the existing character of the area, a building height restriction is imposed for the "V" zone.
To serve the local residents in the immediate neighbourhood, a small site near the junction of Pak Pat Shan Road and Tai Tam Road, which is a shopping centre, is zoned "Commercial" with an area of 0.17 hectares.
A total of about 13 hectares of land, mainly concentrated in the Shek O Village and north of Red Hill, is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to serve the needs of local residents and/or a wider district, region or territory. It includes a health centre, a hostel of the Boy Scouts Association of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong International School.
About 8 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air space for active and passive recreational uses for the local residents and visitors. Existing major open spaces include Turtle Cove Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach, Shek O Beach, Rocky Bay Beach and the Shek O Obstacle Golf Course.
Sites allocated for various specific uses are zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") and covering about 52 hectares of land. They include the Shek O Country Club, the American Recreation Club, and the Radio Communication Station at Cape D'Aguilar. Developments within the Shek O Country Club and the American Recreation Club are subject to building height restrictions.
As the future use of the Shek O Quarry site (which is still in operation) is subject to further detailed study, the site (about 35 hectares) is zoned "Undetermined" ("U"). All proposed developments within the "U" zone require planning permission from the Board to ensure that any interim development will not jeopardise the future planning and development of the site.
In order to conserve and retain the natural coastline and the sensitive natural coastal environment in the Area, undeveloped coastal areas mainly below the 20-metre contour, including the coastal areas around Tai Tam Bay, Tai Tam Harbour, Cape D'Aguilar, Lap Sap Wan, Island Bay, Shek O Wan, Tai Tau Chau, Ng Fan Chau and Big Wave Bay are zoned "Coastal Protection Area". They cover about 51 hectares.
About 14 hectares of land at Tai Tam Harbour (Inner Bay) and Cape D'Aguilar (Hok Tsui) are of special scientific interest and are zoned "Site of Special Scientific Interest". The areas adjoining the Country Park and some other vegetated hilly areas of about 290 hectares are zoned "Green Belt", to conserve the natural environment, safeguard it from encroachment by urban-type development, and provide additional outlets for passive recreational activities.
The approved Tai Tam & Shek O OZP No. S/H18/8 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at:
* Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road;
* Hong Kong District Planning Office, 14/F, North Point Government Offices; and
* Southern District Office, G/F, Ocean Court, 3 Aberdeen Praya Road, Aberdeen.
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 viewed on the Town Planning Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
Ends/Friday, January 21, 2005
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