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

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment within the Ting Kok area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board (the Board) said today (November 6).

     The planning scheme area, covering an area of about 331 hectares, is bounded by the eastern end of Ting Kok Road in the east, the foothills of Pat Sin Leng in the north, Tung Tsz Road in the west and Shuen Wan Hoi in the south.

     About 71.25 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" to designate both existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion. There are 14 recognised villages in the area. These villages are mainly concentrated in the flat land and surrounded by agricultural land and mountainous areas.

     A site of about 0.33 hectare is zoned "Residential (Group C)" for a low-rise, low-density residential development.

     About 17.96 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC"), including a "G/IC(1)" zone north of San Tau Kok Village for the development of a religious institution use with an outdoor Guan Yin Statue and ancillary facilities.

     In order to encourage development for active and passive recreation and tourism/eco-tourism, some 2.19 hectares of land north of Ting Kok Road near Lo Tsz Tin Village are zoned "Recreation". About 4.07 hectares of land to the east of Ting Kok Village are zoned "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Spa Resort Hotel" for development of spa resort hotel which requires planning permission from the Board.

     About 3.91 hectares of land are zoned "Open Space" ("O") for provision of outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents as well as the general public. The "O" zone south of Ting Kok Road near Lung Mei Village is reserved for the development of a 200-metre long bathing beach.

     Two sites of about 40.11 hectares are zoned "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI). The Ting Kok SSSI on the coast near Ting Kok Village and Po Sam Pai Village covers a habitat of mangrove and coastal deposits of mud and silt. The second SSSI covers the Shuen Wan Egretry at Shuen Wan Chim Uk, which supports a mixture of herons. The herons roost there and build nests for breeding in the area. The trees and woodland thereat are also worth preserving.

     About 6.97 hectares of land surrounding the Ting Kok SSSI are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to protect the special landscape of these natural coastline areas.

     About 21.53 hectares of land are zoned "Conservation Area" to preserve the existing natural character or ecological features of the area and separate sensitive natural environment from impacts of development. About 59.95 hectares of land are zoned "Agriculture" to retain and safeguard good quality agricultural land/farm/fish ponds for agricultural purposes. About 90.77 hectares of land, which consist of vegetated foothills, knolls, woodlands and streams, are zoned "Green Belt".

     The approved Ting Kok OZP No. S/NE-TK/19 is available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the 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 Tai Po District Office; and the Tai Po Rural Committee.

     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, November 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:07

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