Draft Yuen Long Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Yuen Long Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Yuen Long area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (April 10).
The planning scheme area, covering about 561 hectares, is bounded by the outer edge of Yuen Long INNOPARK in the north, Yuen Long Highway in the south, the Yuen Long Kau Hui group of villages in the east and Long Tin Road in the west.
The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Yuen Long OZP No. S/YL/28, which involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Shap Pat Heung Road and Tai Shu Ha Road East from "Village Type Development" to "Residential (Group A)9" for private residential development; (ii) rezoning a site near the junction of Shap Pat Heung Road and Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road from "Government, Institution or Community" to "Residential (Group A)10" for private residential development with social welfare facilities; and (iii) rezoning a site to the west of Yuen Long Pau Cheung Square from "Residential (Group A)" to "Residential (Group A)11" for private residential-cum-residential care home(s) for the elderly development.
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 Yuen Long OZP No. S/YL/29 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long West District Planning Office, (iv) the Yuen Long District Office, (v) the Ping Shan Heung Rural Committee and (vi) the Shap Pat Heung 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
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling
Hong Kong Customs shut down an underground cigarette factory in Fanling yesterday (April 9), and seized about 31.92 tons of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco and 1.23 million sticks of suspected illicit cigarette. The total estimated market value of all seizure was about $220 million, while the duty potential was about $130 million. Six persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
After in-depth investigation, Customs Officers identified a large metal hut in Ping Che, Fanling. Customs raided the metal hut yesterday morning and found a complete illegal cigarette production line which included machines for producing and packaging illicit cigarettes, a large amount of raw materials used for manufacturing illicit cigarettes and finished illicit cigarette products. Five men and one woman, aged between 21 and 52, were arrested at the scene.
The case is still under investigation. Customs will continue to trace the source of the batch of raw materials of the illicit cigarettes and the production line-related machines. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs reminds members of the public that they must be vigilant when purchasing cigarettes. They should patronise reputable merchants or stores and not purchase cigarettes from unknown sources to avoid threats to their health.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), a person shall not, except under and in accordance with a licence, manufacture tobacco. Besides, any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
