Draft Central District Outline Zoning Plan approved
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     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Central District Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Central District area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (April 19).

     The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 106 hectares, is bounded by Victoria Harbour to the north and adjoins Hong Kong Planning Area 24 along the Connaught Road Central/Harcourt Road corridor. The Area is the centre of existing business activities and the heart of civic and government activities in Hong Kong.

     Although over one-third of the area is designated for road use, taking up about 37.2 hectares, a majority of the remaining area is zoned "Commercial", covering about 28.5 hectares. About 1.9 hectares of land is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area", which covers three piers along the waterfront and the adjacent inland area.

     A number of sites are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" and "Open Space", each covering about 15.6 hectares, to serve local and district needs.

     Several sites taking up a total of 5.34 hectares are zoned "Other Specified Uses", covering Central Market and Murray Building, which are designated for preservation and revitalisation; three piers (i.e. the Central Government Pier, Pier 2 and Pier 3); the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal; and sites for other specified uses.

     Two relatively small sites north of Kennedy Road near the Peak Tramway and adjacent to the British Consulate are respectively zoned "Residential (Group A)" and "Residential (Group B)" and cover about 0.2 hectares and 0.8 hectares.

     The well-wooded hill slopes behind the military quarters at the south-east end of the area are zoned "Green Belt", taking up about 1.3 hectares. These areas are not suitable for development due to the topography. This zone is primarily intended for the conservation of the existing natural environment amid the built-up areas/at the urban fringe, to safeguard it from encroachment by urban-type development, and to provide additional outlets for passive recreational activities.

     The approved Central District OZP No. S/H4/14 is available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Hong Kong District Planning Office, the Central and Western District Office and the Wan Chai District Office.
 
     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed at the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, April 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:02

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