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The Town Planning Board today (August 22) announced the publication of the draft Lai Chi Wo, Siu Tan and Sam A Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
The draft Lai Chi Wo, Siu Tan and Sam A Tsuen OZP covers a total area of about 131 hectares comprising three areas, namely Lai Chi Wo, Siu Tan and Sam A Tsuen. The area is surrounded by Plover Cove Country Park except where it adjoins the Lai Chi Wo Special Area near Lai Chi Wo and fronts the Yan Chau Tong Marine Park.
A spokesman for the Town Planning Board said the general planning intention for Lai Chi Wo, Siu Tan and Sam A Tsuen 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.
About 5.92 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" to designate both existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion.
Three sites of about 0.11 hectares in total area are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to reflect the existing Hip Tin Temple and Hok Shan Monastery, a permanent flushing toilet and a telephone exchange and to reserve the vacant premises of the former Siu Ying School at Lai Chi Wo to be converted into a geoheritage and ecological education centre.
About 6.28 hectares of land is zoned "Agriculture" covering the active agricultural land intermixed with abandoned farmland/grassland at the southern part of the villages at Lai Chi Wo and Sam A.
About 95.19 hectares of land is zoned "Green Belt" covering the natural vegetation, woodland, hilly terrain, hillside shrubland, grassland and stream courses including the Ecologically Important Stream and its riparian zone together with a narrow strip of land in between the Lai Chi Wo Special Area and the village cluster of Lai Chi Wo Village so as to protect existing green areas and preserve the hilly terrain in the area.
About 23.54 hectares of land is zoned "Conservation Area". The wooded area to the north of the existing Lai Chi Wo Village; the fung shui woodlands at Mui Tsz Lam, Kop Tong and Sam A Tsuen; the coastal area along the eastern boundary of Lai Chi Wo; and the wetland system in Siu Tan are included within this zone.
The draft Lai Chi Wo, Siu Tan and Sam A Tsuen OZP is now 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 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 representations in respect of the draft plan to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before October 22.
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 (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
Ends/Friday, August 22, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:01
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