Draft Aberdeen & Ap Lei Chau OZP amended
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    The Town Planning Board today (March 24) announced amendments to the draft Aberdeen & Ap Lei Chau Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     The amendments mainly involve the rezoning of sub-areas under the "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Business" and "Government, Institution or Community" and "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Petrol Filling Station" zones within the Wong Chuk Hang Business Area (WCHBA) to reflect various building height restrictions.  

     The main objective for height control in this area is to reinforce the intrinsic character and natural attributes of Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau as a whole, while enabling flexibility in building design to achieve the permissible non-domestic plot ratio under the Building (Planning) Regulations.

     The recommended building height restrictions have taken into account the need to preserve the existing green, visual and ventilation corridor which runs from the Aberdeen Country Park through the Aberdeen Reservoir valley to the Aberdeen Channel; respect the character and scale of the adjacent low-rise heritage buildings and their natural settings; and maintain the unique character of Aberdeen as a traditional fishing harbour and a popular tourist spot.  

     To create a more discernible townscape, two height bands - 120 metres above Principal Datum (mPD) and 140mPD, are imposed in the WCHBA which can help achieve a stepped height profile.

     Lower building height restrictions of 10mPD, 25mPD and 45mPD are imposed on 3 sites zoned "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Petrol Filling Station(1)", "Government, Institution or Community (1)" and "Government, Institution or Community (2)" respectively to provide visual relief and breathing space within a high-density environment.

The draft Aberdeen & Ap Lei Chau OZP No. S/H15/23, incorporating the amendments, is now available for public inspection during normal office hours until May 24, 2006 at the following locations :

* Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road;

* Planning Enquiry Counter, 17/F, North Point Government Offices;

* Planning Enquiry Counter, 14/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road;

* Hong Kong District Planning Office, 14/F, North Point Government Offices; and

* Southern District Office, G/F, Ocean Court, 3 Aberdeen Praya Road, Aberdeen.

     Anyone can make representations to the Board in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before May 24, 2006. Representations made to the Town Planning Board will be made available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft Aberdeen & Ap Lei Chau OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the draft plan can be viewed at the Board's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/).

Ends/Friday, March 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:46

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