Draft Mai Po and Fairview Park Outline Zoning Plan approved
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Mai Po and Fairview Park Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Mai Po and Fairview Park area", a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (October 9).
The planning scheme area, covering about 1 148 hectares, is bounded by San Tin Highway, the San Tin Technopole and the Ngau Tam Mei area including the Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area to the east, Shenzhen River to the north, Mai Po Nature Reserve to the west and Nam Sang Wai area to the south.
The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP No. S/YL-MP/9, which mainly involve (i) rezoning a site at Kam Pok Road from "Residential (Group D)" to "Residential (Group C)1" for a private residential development with commercial use, transport lay-by, neighbourhood elderly centre and open space; and (ii) upzoning a site at Wo Shang Wai zoned "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Comprehensive Development to include Wetland Restoration Area" to facilitate a private residential development with a 100-place residential care home for the elderly and a wetland restoration area.
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 Mai Po and Fairview Park OZP No. S/YL-MP/10 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Fanling, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long East District Planning Office, (iv) the Yuen Long District Office, and (v) the San Tin 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 (October 9) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 17 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach* | Middle Bay Beach* |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach | South Bay Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | St. Stephens Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach* |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Golden Beach* |
| Approach Beach* | Hoi Mei Wan Beach* |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Kadoorie Beach, Kiu Tsui Beach and Kwun Yam Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
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).
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 29 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 1. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.
Source: AI-found images
