Tai Po Outline Zoning Plan Approved, Guiding Future Development and Redevelopment

Draft Tai Po Outline Zoning Plan approved

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Tai Po Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Tai Po area", a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (January 23).

The planning scheme area, covering an area of about 2 438 hectares, is surrounded by the mountain ranges of Pat Sin Leng, Cloudy Hill, Tai Mo Shan and Grassy Hill on three sides. The coastline of Tolo Harbour forms its natural boundary to the east.

The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Tai Po OZP No. S/TP/31, which mainly involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Lo Fai Road and Ting Kok Road from "Green Belt" ("GB") and an area shown as 'Road' to "Residential (Group A)11" to facilitate a public housing development under a Land Sharing Pilot Scheme (LSPS) application (LSPS Site A); (ii) rezoning a site at Ting Kok Road to the north of Fortune Garden from "GB" and an area shown as 'Road' to "Residential (Group A)12" to facilitate a private housing development under a LSPS application (LSPS Site B); (iii) rezoning a site to the north of Shek Kwu Lung from "Open Space" to "Government, Institution or Community (3)"; (iv) rezoning two parcels of land adjoining the LSPS Site A and Site B along Ting Kok Road from areas shown as 'Road' to "GB"; (v) rezoning a strip of land to the east of the LSPS Site B along Ting Kok Road from "GB" to an area shown as 'Road'; (vi) rezoning two parcels of land to the north of Fortune Garden along Ting Kok Road from "Residential (Group C)1" ("R(C)1") to areas shown as 'Road'; and (vii) rezoning a parcel of land to the north of Fortune Garden along Ting Kok Road from an area shown as 'Road' to "R(C)1".

The Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP have been amended to reflect the above amendments. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

The approved Tai Po OZP No. S/TP/32 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, (iv) the Tai Po District Office, and (v) the Tai Po Rural Committee.

Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 23) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.

Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Casam Beach

Golden Beach

Clear Water Bay Second Beach

Lido Beach

Deep Water Bay Beach

Silverstrand Beach

Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.

Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.

A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).

Source: AI-found images