Draft Tai Tan, Uk Tau, Ko Tong and Ko Tong Ha Yeung Outline Zoning Plan gazetted
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The Town Planning Board today (August 19) announced the publication of the draft Tai Tan, Uk Tau, Ko Tong and Ko Tong Ha Yeung Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
The planning scheme area, covering a total land area of about 70.79 hectares, is surrounded by the Sai Kung East and Sai Kung West Country Parks and fronts Ko Tong Hau in the northeast. It is characterised by coastal plain landscape and upper valley landscape, and has rich and significant landscape resources with high landscape sensitivity. The area comprises two sub-areas, i.e. the main portion bounded by Wong Ma Tei and Wong Chuk Long in the east and the west, and a small area at the eastern coast currently occupied by The Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre. Pak Tam Road is the main road access to the area and leads to Wong Shek Pier, a major pier providing ferry services to and from Tap Mun and Chek Keng. Four recognised villages (i.e. Tai Tan, Uk Tau, Ko Tong and Ko Tong Ha Yeung) are situated at the foothills to the west of Pak Tam Road.
A spokesman for the Board said that the general planning intention for the area is to protect its high conservation and landscape value which complements the overall naturalness and the landscape beauty of the surrounding Country Parks. It is also intended to consolidate village development so as to avoid undesirable disturbance to the natural environment and overtaxing the limited infrastructure in the area.
About 5.4 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" to designate both existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion.
About 1.77 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 existing GIC facilities include the public toilet at Ko Tong Ha Yeung, two refuse collection points at Wong Shek Pier and Kong Tong Ha Yeung, the telephone exchange, the Civil Aid Service Tai Tan Camp and The Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre.
About 0.08 hectare of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") for specific development(s) and/or use(s). There is only one "OU" zone, which is annotated “Pier” and covers the major existing public transport facility in the area, namely Wong Shek Pier.
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 60.21 hectares of land, comprising mainly woodlands, scrublands, seasonally wet grassland, marsh and streams, including the Tai Tan Ecologically Important Stream and its riparian zone, is zoned "Green Belt" ("GB"). The small portions of the permitted burial grounds along the southeastern fringes of the area are also zoned “GB”.
About 0.57 hectares of land is 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 mature woodland to the northeast of Ko Tong Village which supports some protected plant species and plant species of conservation interest is zoned "CA".
About 2.53 hectares of land is zoned "Coastal Protection Area" ("CPA") 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. The coastal area along Ko Tong Hau, comprising natural coastline with mangroves, marsh, backshore vegetation and sandy shore along the edge of the area and at the estuarine area along the northern section, is zoned "CPA".
The draft Tai Tan, Uk Tau, Ko Tong and Ko Tong Ha Yeung OZP 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.
Any person may make written representations in respect of the draft plan to the Secretary of the Board on or before October 19, 2016.
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 at the Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).
Ends/Friday, August 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:01
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