*****************************************************
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft To Kwa Peng and Pak Tam Au Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the To Kwa Peng and Pak Tam Au area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (July 3).
The planning scheme area, which comprises two sub-areas, namely the To Kwa Peng area (about 9.77 hectares) and the Pak Tam Au area (about 15.19 hectares), covers a total area of about 24.96 hectares. It is encircled by Sai Kung East Country Park in the east, and Pak Tam Road and Sai Kung West Country Park in the west.
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 Sai Kung East and Sai Kung West Country Parks.
A total of about 4.46 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" to reflect the existing recognised villages, and to provide land considered suitable for village expansion.
About 0.88 hectares of land are zoned "Agriculture" to retain fallow arable land for agricultural purposes and to preserve the rural setting as well as the natural environment in the area. This zone covers grassland and woodland developed from abandoned agricultural land to the south of the channelised stream in Pak Tam Au.
About 1.79 hectares of land are zoned "Green Belt" to provide a buffer between the development and conservation areas or Country Park area. The vegetated hillslopes, natural stream and woodland in the western portion of To Kwa Peng as well as the vegetated hillslopes and woodland at the southwestern part of Pak Tam Au are included within this zone.
About 16.75 hectares of land are zoned "Conservation Area" 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. This zone mainly covers the relatively undisturbed native woodland ecologically linked to the natural habitats in the adjacent Sai Kung East Country Park.
About 1.08 hectares of land are 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 areas along Ko Tong Hau at To Kwa Peng.
The approved To Kwa Peng and Pak Tam Au OZP No. S/NE-TKP/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, July 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN
