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The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Chek Keng Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Chek Keng area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (February 19).
The planning scheme area, covering a total area of about 34.74 hectares, is surrounded by Sai Kung East Country Park (SKECP) except where it fronts onto Chek Keng Hau in the north, one of the sea bays along the northern coast of the Country Park.
The general planning intention of the area is to protect its high conservation and landscape value which complements the overall naturalness and the landscape beauty of the surrounding Country Park. It is also intended to consolidate village development so as to avoid undesirable disturbances to the natural environment and overtaxing the limited infrastructure in the area.
About 2.24 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" to designate both the existing recognised village and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion.
About 0.08 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" primarily for the provision of government, institution or community (GIC) facilities serving the needs of the local residents and/or a wider district, region or the territory. The major GIC facilities include a public toilet and a refuse collection point along the MacLehose Trail in the eastern part of the area, as well as Holy Family Chapel at the southern fringe of Chek Keng Village.
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 28.82 hectares of land, comprising mainly woodlands, shrublands, grasslands and streams, is zoned "Green Belt" to provide a buffer between the village type developments and SKECP, and conserve the natural and rural character of the area.
About 3.6 hectares of land is zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to conserve, protect and retain the natural coastlines and the sensitive coastal natural environment, including attractive geological features, physical landforms or areas of high landscape, scenic or ecological value, with a minimum of built development. This zone mainly covers the coastal area along Chek Keng Hau to the north of the MacLehose Trail (with the exception of a few houses and ruins at the existing village cluster) and the cliff of the vegetated knoll to the south of the trail. It primarily consists of sandy/rocky shore with cliff, backshore vegetation, mangroves and stream estuaries.
The approved Chek Keng OZP No. S/NE-CK/2 is now 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 Sai Kung North 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, February 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:06
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