The Town Planning Board today (May 26) announced the publication of a new draft Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) for the Hung Shiu Kiu New Development Area (NDA). The Board also announced amendments to the approved Lau Fau Shan and Tsim Bei Tsui OZP, the approved Ping Shan OZP, the approved Tin Shui Wai OZP, the approved Lam Tei and Yick Yuen OZP and the approved Ha Tsuen OZP. Ha Tsuen OZP is to be renamed as Ha Tsuen Fringe OZP.

     Hung Shui Kiu NDA is an important component in the overall development strategy to provide housing land for Hong Kong in the medium to long term. The NDA will be one of the next generation Hong Kong new towns and will be developed as a balanced and socially integrated community with an emphasis on environmentally friendly design. Upon full development, the Hung Shui Kiu NDA will accommodate a total population of about 218 000 including a new population of 176 000, and will provide about 150 000 employment opportunities. The NDA is positioned to become the Regional Economic and Civic Hub for the whole North West New Territories region.

     The planning scheme area of the draft Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen OZP, covering about 707 hectares, is bounded by the Tin Shui Wai New Town to the east, Castle Peak Road to the south, the knolls of Yuen Tau Shan to the west and the Lau Fau Shan Road/hill slope along Deep Bay Road to the north.

     About 24.12 hectares are zoned "Commercial" for commercial developments, functioning as territorial business/financial centre and regional or district commercial/shopping centre.

     About 3.65 hectares to the south of West Rail Tin Shui Wai station are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area", which is intended for comprehensive development of the area for residential use with the provision of commercial, open space and other supporting facilities.

     About 69.44 hectares are zoned "Residential (Group A)" ("R(A)") for high-density residential development. The "R(A)" zone includes sites for private housing, public rental housing or subsidised sale flat developments.

     About 18.1 hectares are zoned "Residential (Group B)", which is primarily intended for medium-density private residential developments.

     About 0.4 hectare is zoned "Residential (Group C)", which is primarily intended for low-rise and low-density residential developments.

     About 118.08 hectares are zoned "Village Type Development" ("V"), which is to designate existing recognised villages and areas of land considered suitable for village expansion. A site of about 1.31 hectares to the north of Tsing Chuen Wai and two sites of about 1.21 hectares to the north of Fung Kong Tsuen are designated as "V(1)" for reprovisioning of the village houses under the Village Removal Terms due to the NDA development.

     About 15.07 hectares are zoned "Industrial", which is intended primarily for general industrial uses to ensure an adequate supply of industrial floor space to meet demand from production-oriented industries.

     About 68.52 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC"). This zone is primarily for the provision of G/IC facilities serving the needs of local residents and residents of Tin Shui Wai New Town, as well as the community at a wider district, regional or the territorial level.

     About 99.11 hectares are zoned "Open Space" for the provision of outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents as well as the general public.

     Land designated for specific uses such as "Mixed Use", "Enterprise and Technology Park", "Logistics Facility", "Port Back-up, Storage and Workshop Uses" and "Parking and Operational Facilities for Environmentally Friendly Transport Services", totalling about 104.91 hectares, is zoned "Other Specified Uses". Land designated for "Mixed Use" is primarily for high-density residential and commercial development. Land designated for "Enterprise and Technology Park" is to provide development space for accommodating a variety of innovative and technology uses including research centre, testing and certification, data centre, modern industries and other related businesses and non-polluting industrial uses. Land designated for "Logistics Facility" is primarily for development of modern logistics facilities. Land designated for "Port Back-up, Storage and Workshop Uses" is intended primarily to cater for port back-up facilities and container related uses. Land designated for "Parking and Operational Facilities for Environmentally Friendly Transport Services" is primarily for the provision of parking and operational facilities for the Environmentally Friendly Transport Services serving the area.

     About 55.92 hectares are zoned under "Green Belt". The planning intention of this zone is primarily for defining 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.

     The amendments to the approved Lau Fau Shan and Tsim Bei Tsui OZP, the approved Ping Shan OZP, the approved Tin Shui Wai OZP, the approved Lam Tei and Yick Yuen OZP and the approved Ha Tsuen OZP mainly involve excision of land area from the respective OZPs for incorporation into the Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen OZP. To rationalise the planning scheme area, the Ha Tsuen Fringe OZP (previously named Ha Tsuen OZP) also incorporated an area of about 42 hectares from the western-most part of the approved Ping Shan OZP. This area, being part of the existing hilly areas of Yuen Tau Shan, is retained as "Conservation Area" zone.

     The new draft Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen OZP, as well as the five draft plans incorporating the amendments, are 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 Tuen Mun and Yuen Long West District Planning Office; and the respective District Offices and Rural Committees.

     Any person may make written representations in respect of the draft plans to the Secretary of the Board on or before July 26.

     Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. The electronic versions of the plans can be viewed at the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, May 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:01

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