SKYLINE Technologies -- News Update ( 21 March 2003 )

21 March 2003

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1. A liability, the financial secretary should go
2. Draft Wan Chai Outline Zoning Plan approved
3. Draft Discovery Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved
4. Draft Causeway Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved
5. Draft Pok Fu Lam Outline Zoning Plan approved
6. Approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan referred back
7. Draft So Kwun Wat Outline Zoning Plan approved
8. Draft Tsz Wan Shan, Diamond Hill and San Po Kong OZP amended

1. A liability, the financial secretary should go
SCMP, 21 March 2003

Your call for Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to accept the resignation of Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung is apt ("Chief Executive must let Antony Leung go", South China Morning Post, March 19) in view of new and damaging evidence brought to light by the government itself.

As much as we admire Mr Leung for his devotion to serve the public, his so-called oversight has rendered him a political liability for the government. Instead of persevering in this political maelstrom, Mr Leung should try again to urge Mr Tung to accept his resignation for the sake of preserving the integrity of the government and of his reputation.

We cannot doubt that his expertise in financial and economic matters has been indispensable in tackling Hong Kong's budgetary woes. In fact, his departure would be a great loss to a government defined by mediocrity.

Still, by stepping down Mr Leung could save the administration and himself from further embarrassments, as allegations of his impropriety are clearly not diminshing.

Mr Leung could still serve the public in other capacities even after relinquishing his role as financial secretary, if he is truly committed to serving the community. For instance, he could serve as a consultant to privately-funded think tanks or non-governmental organisations. There is no question that his contribution or opinion would still carry weight with the government.

More important, in the long run this show of political courage could bolster his political standing and it would demonstrate his genuine commitment to serve Hong Kong.

It is regrettable and unfathomable that Mr Leung, who is a shrewd and experienced international banker, landed himself in this hot water.

Nevertheless, being a political appointee, he ought to know that when one's time is up, one should leave voluntarily to save oneself from the humiliation of being forced out of office.

He appeared to have recognised this cruel political reality. Sadly, Mr Tung asked him to stay behind with only a slap on the wrist. By bowing out now, Mr Leung could still have a second chance to revive his political career after a carefully managed rehabilitation.

On the other hand, his political future could be irreparably damaged if he chooses to fight an uphill battle in the full view of the public.

Mr Tung must recognise that it is high time for decisiveness, a trait for which he is not known. There is no doubt that it would be a painful decision for Mr Tung, who obviously values the service and counsel of Mr Leung.

But if Mr Tung allows this scandal to be dragged out by his political foes, his government might lose the last shred of credibility it still commands from the public. Therefore, it is imperative that Mr Tung acts promptly to cut Mr Leung loose from the administration.

While this may sound harsh, it is the only politically sensible step to steer the government clear of the political storm.

JONATHAN LI, Waterloo Hill

2. Draft Wan Chai Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

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

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land-use framework to guide development and redevelopment in Wan Chai," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 21).

The Planning Scheme Area of the approved OZP, covering about 89 hectares, is bounded by Gloucester Road to the north; Percival Street to the east; Leighton Road, Queen's Road East and Kennedy Road to the south; and Monmouth Path and Arsenal Street to the west.

Wan Chai has been developed into an area characterised by a mixture of commercial and residential development. There is a trend towards more intensive commercial development along Queen's Road East. Developments in the southern part of the area are predominantly residential in nature.

Most of the area (about 24.8ha) is zoned "Commercial/Residential". Wu Chung House in Queen's Road East and Times Square in Russell Street are zoned "Commercial" covering about 1.5ha.

The areas located to the south of Queen's Road East and the area bounded by Queen's Road East, Wan Chai Road, Johnston Road and Hennessy Road are zoned "Residential (Group A)" covering a total of 11ha. The areas to the immediate north of Kennedy Road are zoned "Residential (Group B)" taking up 1.6ha. Sites in the Sau Wa Fong area including Sik On Street are zoned "Residential (Group C)" covering about 0.5ha.

A number of sites are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" (about 14.6ha) and "Open Space" (4.3ha) respectively. Sites covering about 1.4ha are zoned "Other Specified Uses" for various specific uses.

The Land Development Corporation (LDC) Development Scheme Plan (DSP) areas cover about 2ha. The Urban Renewal Authority was established in May 2001 to replace the LDC.

The above DSP areas comprise three approved DSPs, namely the Wan Chai Road/Tai Yuen Street Scheme Area, the Lee Tung Street and McGregor Street Scheme Area and the Johnston Road Scheme Area.

The approved Wan Chai OZP No S/H5/21 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the following locations:

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

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

* Wan Chai District Office, Ground Floor, 2 O'Brien Road.

Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. Its electronic version is viewable from the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

3. Draft Discovery Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

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

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within Discovery Bay," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 21).

The Planning Scheme Area of the approved OZP, covering about 810 hectares, is located in the eastern part of Lantau Island. It is mainly bounded by the proposed Lantau North (Extension) Country Park in the north, west and south, and Tai Pak Wan in the east. Further east lies Peng Chau, while about 4 kilometres to the northeast is Hongkong Disneyland, which is under construction in Penny's Bay.

The population of the area was about 15,600 in 2001. With regard to the character of the area, environmental considerations and existing and planned infrastructure, the approved OZP provides for a planned total population of about 25,000 people in the Discovery Bay development and 200 people in the rural settlements upon full development.

The planning intention is primarily to conserve the natural setting of the area and to allow compatible low-density development which provides for a mix of residential and recreational uses. It adopts the urban design concept of maintaining a car-free and low-density environment while concentrating commercial, major community and open space facilities at more accessible locations. One activity node has been earmarked for each of the ferry piers in Tai Pak Wan and Yi Pak Wan. A stepped-height approach has been adopted, with low-rise development foreseen for the headland and coastal lowland and high-rise development for the inland.

About 101ha are zoned "Residential (Group C)" for low-density housing development compatible with the sub-urban character. This zoning covers the existing and proposed residential areas in the Discovery Bay development in Tai Pak and Yi Pak.

Another 7ha are zoned "Residential (Group D)" to encourage improvement and upgrading of existing temporary domestic structures and houses at Nim Shue Wan and Cheung Sha Lan. In this zone, very low-rise and low-density development may be permitted on application to the Town Planning Board.

About 188ha are zoned "Other Specified Uses" for uses such as commercial complex cum residential development, hotel, golf course, marina, sports and recreation club, staff quarters, petrol station, service area and reservoir, etc.

Some 10ha are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" ("G/IC") to demarcate existing and reserved sites for major G/IC facilities serving the needs of the local residents as well as visitors.

About 11ha are zoned "Open Space" to cover the existing beach in Tai Pak and the proposed central park and waterfront promenade at Yi Pak. The fringe areas covering 167ha in the central and southern parts are zoned "Green Belt".

The uplands in the west and north covering about 241ha are zoned "Conservation Area" to define the limit of development and to protect the natural landscape.

With a total area of about 13ha, the mangrove area at Yi Pak and the coastal areas at Tai Pak, Sam Pak and Sze Pak are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to protect the natural coastlines and coastal features.

Part of the proposed Lantau North (Extension) Country Park covering about 63ha is zoned "Country Park". All uses within this zone are subject to the provisions of the Country Parks Ordinance.

The approved Discovery Bay OZP No. S/I-DB/2 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the following locations:

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

* Lantau and Islands District Planning Office, 15/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road;

* Islands District Office, 20/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central.

Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. An electronic version can be seen on the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

4. Draft Causeway Bay Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

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

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment in Causeway Bay," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 21).

The Planning Scheme Area of the approved OZP, covering about 96 hectares, is bounded by Gloucester Road in the north, Wun Sha Street and Tai Hang Road in the east, So Kon Po in the south and Hong Kong Stadium and Percival Street in the west.

The area is developed mainly for commercial and residential uses with various recreational and sports facilities serving regional and territorial needs.

A total of 14.5ha is zoned "Commercial/Residential". Major commercial/residential developments include popular shopping areas, restaurants and entertainment centres.

Areas covering about 3.2ha are zoned "Residential (Group A)" and include private residential developments bounded by Tung Lo Wan Road, Wun Sha Street and Tai Hang Road.

Areas covering about 5.4ha are zoned "Residential (Group B)" ("R(B)") and include the residential developments at Fontana Gardens and the area in the vicinity of Tai Hang Road and Tai Hang Drive. In view of the limited road capacity and the need to maintain the medium-density character of the area, developments within this zone are subject to a maximum plot ratio of five and a maximum building height of 30 storeys including carports.

Due to poor road access and the intention to preserve the existing low-rise and low-density character, residential areas around Fuk Kwan Avenue, Li Kwan Avenue and Yik Kwan Avenue in Tai Hang and the Wang Fung Terrace area are zoned "Residential (Group C)" ("R(C)"), taking up 3.8ha. They are subject to a maximum plot ratio of two and a maximum building height of six storeys including carports.

Minor relaxation of the stated restrictions may be permitted within the "R(B)" and "R(C)" zones on application to the Town Planning Board under the Town Planning Ordinance.

A number of sites are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" and "Open Space" to serve the local and district needs. The two zones cover about 15ha and 6.1ha respectively.

Sites allocated for various specific uses are zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") with an area of about 7.8ha. To allow redevelopment of the Tiger Balm garden site for residential use as well as to preserve the historical Haw Par Mansion and part of the garden in-situ for public enjoyment through private initiative, the site is zoned "OU" annotated "Residential Development with Historical Site Preserved In-situ".

The hill slopes to the west of Tai Hang Road are zoned "Green Belt", taking up about 19.6ha. They are mainly Government land and generally not suitable for development.

The approved Causeway Bay OZP No. S/H6/12 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the following locations:

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

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

* Wan Chai District Office, Ground Floor, 2 O'Brien Road.

Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in Yau Ma Tei and North Point. An electronic version of the plan can be seen on the Town Planning Board website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

5. Draft Pok Fu Lam Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Pok Fu Lam Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP is to establish a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment in Pok Fu Lam," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 21).

The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 420 hectares, is bounded by Mount Davis Road to the north and Pok Fu Lam Country Park to the east. The area extends to the waterfront to its south and west.

Pok Fu Lam is predominantly a residential district with the provision of a number of government, institution and community facilities.

Three public housing estates, Wah Fu Estate, Wah Kwai Estate and Ka Lung Court, are zoned Residential (Group A) taking up about 23.6ha. Two major private residential developments and a site near these public housing estates are zoned Residential (Group B) covering about 12.4ha.

About 45.2ha of land zoned Residential (Group C) are concentrated in the central and northern portions of the area along Victoria Road, Sha Wan Drive and Sassoon Road.

Pok Fu Lam Village falls within the area is zoned Village Type Development. This zone covers about 2.6ha.

A site of 0.2ha at the junction of Victoria Road and Sha Wan Drive is zoned Commercial (C) for the development of a low-rise local shopping centre. Development within the C zone is restricted to a maximum plot ratio of 2.25 and a maximum building height of three storeys.

A number of sites are zoned Government, Institution or Community and Open Space to serve the local and district needs. The two zones cover 60.6ha and 21.3ha respectively.

Sites allocated for various specific uses are zoned Other Specified Uses (OU) taking up about 35.6ha. The OU zone covering the Cyberport development is divided into six sub-areas. To ensure compatibility of the Cyberport development with the existing natural and built environment, development restrictions on building height and/or gross floor area are stipulated in the Notes for each of its sub-areas. Any development within this OU zone would require planning permission from the Town Planning Board.

Parts of Pok Fu Lam Country Park and Lung Fu Shan Country Park falling within the area are zoned Country Park. The zone takes up 52.5ha.

The areas adjoining the country parks and some other vegetated hilly areas in the area are zoned Green Belt covering about 128.6ha. The zoning is intended to conserve the natural environment and safeguard it from encroachment by urban-type developments.

The approved Pok Fu Lam OZP No S/H10/13 is now available for public inspection during office hours at:

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

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

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

6. Approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan referred back
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

The Chief Executive in Council has referred the approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) back to the Town Planning Board for amendment.

The amendment is necessary for minor boundary adjustment of the planning scheme area to remove the existing fire station at Canton Road from the OZP. The proposed area will be included in the South West Kowloon OZP to facilitate the planning of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

The Tsim Sha Tsui OZP incorporating the boundary adjustment and other technical amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.

The OZP was last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in October 2002.

7. Draft So Kwun Wat Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft So Kwun Wat Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

A spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 21) that the approved OZP would provide a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment in the So Kwun Wat area.

The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 473.6 hectares of land, is located to the south-east of Tuen Mun New Town. It is bounded to the north and the east by the dam of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir and the Tai Lam Country Park, to the south by Castle Peak Road and the coast, and to the west and south-west by Tuen Mun New Town.

A site of about 6.5ha located on the eastern side of Tai Lam Chung Nullah is zoned Comprehensive Development Area for comprehensive suburban residential development and village housing.

Another site of about 4.4ha at Siu Lam is zoned Residential (Group B) to reflect the existing residential developments of Grand Pacific Heights and Grand Pacific Views. Two sites to the south-west of Siu Lam covering about 5.6ha are zoned Residential (Group C) to reflect existing and committed residential developments and to facilitate suburban residential development schemes with supporting facilities.

Recognised villages in the area, including So Kwun Wat Tsuen, So Kwun Wat San Tsuen, Tai Lam Chung Tsuen, Wong Uk and Wu Uk, are zoned Village Type Development taking up about 33.4ha of land.

A total of 91.1ha of land is zoned Government, Institution or Community to cater for local and district needs.

A site of about 0.8ha along the eastern side of Tai Lam Chung Nullah is zoned Open Space to develop a nullah-side promenade.

Another site of about 0.1ha to the south-west of Siu Lam is zoned Other Specified Uses annotated Petrol Filling Station to reflect its existing use as petrol filling station.

About 306.7ha of land is zoned Green Belt to define the limits of urban and suburban development areas. The zone covers foothills, lower hill slopes, spurs, isolated knolls, woodland, traditional burial grounds or vegetated land.

The approved So Kwun Wat OZP No S/TM-SKW/7 is now available for public inspection during office hours at:

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

* Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Planning Office, 14/F, Shatin Government Offices, No 1 Sheung Wo Che Road;

* Tuen Mun District Office, 2/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices, 1 Tuen Hi Road; and

* Tuen Mun Rural Committee, Tsing Yin Street, Tuen Mun.

8. Draft Tsz Wan Shan, Diamond Hill and San Po Kong OZP amended
Hong Kong Government, 21 March 2003

The Town Planning Board (the Board) today (March 21) announced amendments to the draft Tsz Wan Shan, Diamond Hill and San Po Kong Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The amendments are mainly related to the rezoning of two pieces of land at Tsz Wan Shan Road from "Open Space" to "Government, Institution or Community" and from "Residential (Group A)" to "Open Space" respectively to cater for a site-swapping proposal to facilitate redevelopment of a school in the locality.

Other technical amendments are made to reflect the latest land-use proposals of the Tsz Wan Shan, Diamond Hill and San Po Kong planning area.

The draft OZP No. S/K11/16 incorporating the amendments is now available for public inspection during office hours at:

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

* Kowloon District Planning Office, 14/F, North Point Government Offices;

* Wong Tai Sin District Office, 2/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, 138 Lung Cheung Road.

Any person affected by the amendments may submit a written objection to the Secretary of the Board on or before April 11, 2003.

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