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The Town Planning Board today (August 22) announced the publication of the draft Luk Wu and Keung Shan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
The Planning Scheme Area covers about 167 hectares. It is located on Lantau Island to the east of Tai O and to the southwest of Ngong Ping, and accessible by vehicles via Sham Wat Road, Tai O Road and Keung Shan Road. The area is completely encircled by the Lantau North Country Park in the north and west and the Lantau South Country Park in the south and east, and is characterised by a rural, religious and tranquil ambience.
A spokesman for the Town Planning Board said the general planning intention is to protect the natural landscape and the special religious and tranquil character which complements the overall naturalness and the landscape beauty of the surrounding Lantau North and Lantau South Country Parks, and to make provision for future Small House development for the indigenous villagers of the Luk Wu and Keung Shan area. Developments which would cause adverse impacts on the water quality and water resources of the water gathering ground are not encouraged.
About 0.02 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group C)" for low-rise, low-density residential developments. This zone includes an existing villa development, namely "Glen Eagle" to the south of the Luk Wu area, and two residential developments to the north of the Ngau Kwo Tin area.
A total of about 0.85 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" for the provision of land to designate both existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion.
A total of about 7.47 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC"). Except the area designated as "Government, Institution or Community(1)" ("G/IC(1)"), the "G/IC" zone is intended 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. This zone covers the GIC facilities and public utilities, including electricity substation, water pump house, fresh water tank, fresh/raw water break pressure tanks, refuse collection point and public toilets, serving mainly the community in Luk Wu and Keung Shan. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's Keung Shan Country Park Management Centre is also covered by this zone. To reflect the existing religious uses, about 5.28 hectares of land are designated as "G/IC(1)". Only selected GIC facilities are permitted in this sub-zone. The existing religious buildings which have existed in the area for a long time will be reflected/tolerated under this sub-zone.
About 12.72 hectares of land are zoned "Agriculture" to retain and safeguard good quality agricultural land/farms for agricultural purposes. It is also intended to retain fallow arable land with good potential for rehabilitation for cultivation and other agricultural purposes. Fallow arable land with good potential for rehabilitation for cultivation and agricultural land with occasional/active cultivation are mainly found in areas near the religious uses and village developments within and in the vicinity of the village "environs".
To define the limits of development areas by natural features and to preserve the existing natural landscape as well as to provide passive recreational outlets, about 143 hectares of land are zoned "Green Belt". This zone covers the natural vegetated areas which consist of a streamcourse, dense woodlands on some knolls in Keung Shan and relatively disturbed young woodlands that have developed from abandoned agricultural land. Most of the woodland and areas adjoining the Lantau North and Lantau South Country Parks are within this zone.
About 0.38 hectares of land is zoned "Country Park" to reflect the extent of the country park which is designated for the purposes of nature conservation, countryside recreation and nature education. The zone covers part of the Lantau South Country Park, namely a section of the southern portion of the Keung Shan Catchwater and its service road to the north of Ngau Kwo Tin.
The draft Luk Wu and Keung Shan OZP is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Islands District Office at Harbour Building and Mui Wo and the Tai O Rural Committee.
Any person may make written representation 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 16:02
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