Draft So Lo Pun Outline Zoning Plan gazetted
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     The Town Planning Board today (September 27) announced the publication of the draft So Lo Pun Outline Zoning Plan.

     The draft So Lo Pun Outline Zoning Plan covers a total area of about 27.68 hectares. It is encircled by the Plover Cove Country Park on three sides and fronts the scenic coastline of Kat O Hoi to the north-east.  

     A spokesman for the Town Planning Board said the general planning intention is to protect its high conservation and landscape value which complements the overall naturalness and the landscape beauty of the surrounding Plover Cove Country Park. To cater for the existing villages, land is also reserved for Small House development by indigenous villagers.

     A total of about 4.12 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" to reflect existing recognised and other villages, and to provide land considered suitable for village expansion.

     To define the limits of urban and sub-urban development areas by natural features and to contain urban sprawl as well as to provide passive recreational outlets, about 15.51 hectares of land are zoned "Green Belt" ("GB"). The sites zoned "GB" include the vegetated hill slopes which form a continuous stretch of well-established vegetation of the natural woodlands in the adjoining Plover Cove Country Park.

     About 8.05 hectares of land are zoned "Conservation Area" ("CA") to protect and retain the existing natural landscape, ecological or topographical features of the area for conservation, educational and research purposes and to separate sensitive natural environment such as Country Park from the adverse effects of development. The "CA" zoning covers the wetland system in So Lo Pun including the intertidal habitats with mangroves and seagrass beds, reed ponds, a natural stream identified as an Ecologically Important Stream and the freshwater marsh which are of ecological importance.

     The draft So Lo Pun Outline Zoning Plan is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, the North District Office, and the Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee.

     Any person may make written representations in respect of the draft plan to the Secretary of the Board on or before November 27.

     Copies of the draft plan 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 on the Town Planning Board's website at (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, September 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:00

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