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The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Luk Wu and Keung Shan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP is to provide a statutory land use planning framework 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 area. Developments which would cause adverse impacts on the water quality and water resources of the water gathering grounds are not encouraged," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (September 18).
The approved Luk Wu and Keung Shan OZP covers a total area of about 167 hectares. It is 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. It 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.
About 0.02 hectares of land are zoned "Residential (Group C)" to conserve the existing character and intensity of the residential development so as to blend in well with the surrounding natural environment and not to adversely affect the limited infrastructure in the area.
About 0.85 hectares of land are zoned "Village Type Development" to reflect the existing recognised villages of Upper Keung Shan and Lower Keung Shan and provide land considered suitable for village expansion.
About 2.19 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to reflect the existing government, institution or community facilities and public utilities, including an electricity substation, a water pump house, a fresh water tank, fresh/raw water break pressure tanks, a refuse collection point and public toilets, serving mainly the community in Luk Wu and Keung Shan. The Keung Shan Country Park Management Centre is also covered by this zone.
About 5.28 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community (1)" to reflect the existing religious uses. To protect the natural environment and water quality of the Luk Wu and Keung Shan area and the tranquil ambience and character of the local culture, only minor alteration or redevelopment of the existing religious building by a building of the same use and with the same building bulk is always permitted.
About 12.72 hectares of land are zoned "Agriculture" to retain good quality agricultural land for agricultural purposes. It is also intended to retain fallow arable land with good potential for rehabilitation for cultivation and other agricultural purposes.
The natural vegetated areas of about 143 hectares in total are zoned "Green Belt" 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. There is a general presumption against development within this zone.
About 0.38 hectares of land are 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. This zone covers a section of the southern portion of the Keung Shan Catchwater and its service road to the north of Ngau Kwo Tin.
The approved Luk Wu and Keung Shan OZP No. S/I-LWKS/2 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 Offices and the Tai O 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 on the Town Planning Board's website at www.info.gov.hk/tpb.
Ends/Friday, September 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:06
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