SKYLINE Technologies -- News Update (24 March 2006 )

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1. Funding for EcoPark development approved
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

The Finance Committee today (March 24) endorsed a government proposal to upgrade the EcoPark project in Tuen Mun Area 38 to Category A at an estimated cost of $319.1 million.

"The 20-hectare EcoPark is a key element of Hong Kong's waste management strategy to promote local recycling of waste materials," a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said.

"The timely completion of the project is instrumental in jumpstarting a circular economy in the Government's efforts to tackle the urgent and serious waste problem in Hong Kong," he said.

"By offering the necessary support infrastructure and security of tenure, it will encourage the industry to put more long-term investment in advanced and value-added environmental and recycling processes," he said.

The 20-hectare EcoPark will be equipped with essential facilities including an internal access road network, utilities, marine loading and unloading facilities, and an administration building.

"We aim to make available the lots in Phase I for occupation by tenants by the end of 2006. Phase II of the construction project is scheduled for completion by end-2009," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Department is inviting organisations interested in setting up recycling and environmental businesses in the EcoPark to submit Expressions of Interest.

Relevant documents and information are available at the dedicated website for EcoPark at http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/ecopark.

2. Appointment of HA Members for 2006/07
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:

The Chief Executive has reappointed five serving members and appointed six new members to the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) for two years with effect from April 1, 2006, the Government announced today (March 24).

The re-appointed members are: -

Mr. WONG Kwun
Mr. Eddie NG Hak-kim
Mrs. Pamela CHAN WONG Shui
Mr. Henry WU King-cheong
Mr. Stephen YIP Moon-wah

The newly appointed members are: -

Mr. Andrew CHAN Ping-chiu
Mr. Joseph FAN Wai-kuen
Mr. Augustine WONG Ho-ming
Mr. Andy LAM Siu-wing
Dr. Rebecca CHIU Lai-har
Mr. KWOK Lit-tung

Six members will retire from the HA from 1 April. They are :-

Ms SIU Yuen-sheung
Mr. Walter CHAN Kar-lok
Mr. CHAN Bing-woon
Mr. NG Shui-lai
Mr. CHENG Yan-kee
Ms Christine FANG Meng-sang

"We are grateful to the new members for acceptance of the appointments and the five existing members for agreeing to serve on the HA for another term," a spokesman for the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau said.

"We also wish to thank the six retiring members for their sterling contributions over the past years," he noted.

Brief notes on the new appointees and membership of the HA for 2006/07 are listed below.

Brief Notes on newly appointed HA Members:

Mr. Andrew CHAN Ping-chiu
Solicitor and town planner. Current member of HA’s Building Committee.

Mr. Joseph FAN Wai-kuen
Accountant. Current member of HA’s Finance Committee.

Mr. Augustine WONG Ho-ming
Estate surveyor. Current Member of HA’s Commercial Properties Committee.

Mr. Andy LAM Siu-wing
Businessman and management consultant. Current Member of HA’s Audit Sub-Committee.

Dr. Rebecca CHIU Lai-har
Associate Professor of The University of Hong Kong. Member of Town Planning Board and Land and Building Advisory Committee.

Mr. KWOK Lit-tung
Social worker and Director of Christian Family Service Centre. Member of Broadcasting Authority and Guardianship Board.

Membership of the Housing Authority- 2006/07 :

Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Chairman)
Director of Housing (Vice-chairman)

Non-official Members (29) :
Mr. WONG Kwun
Mr. CHUNG Shui-ming
Mr. Michael CHOI Ngai-min
Mr. HO Sai-chu
Mr. IP Kwok-him
Hon. Patrick LAU Sau-shing
Hon. CHAN Kam-lam
Ms Teresa CHENG Yeuk-wah
Dr. Martin KWONG Hoi-chau
Hon. SIN Chung-kai
Mr. LIU Sing-cheong
Hon. Tommy CHEUNG Yu-yan
Mr. Eddie NG Hak-kim
Mrs. Pamela CHAN WONG Shui
Mr. Henry WU King-cheong
Mr. Stephen YIP Moon-wah
Mr. SHIH Wing-ching
Mr. Stanley WONG Yuen-fai
Prof. the Hon. Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung
Mr. Anthony CHOW Wing-kin
Dr. the Hon. Joseph LEE Kok-long
Hon. LI Kwok-ying
Hon. Fred LI Wah-ming
Mr. Andrew CHAN Ping-chiu
Mr. Joseph FAN Wai-kuen
Mr. Augustine WONG Ho-ming
Mr. Andy LAM Siu-wing
Dr. Rebecca CHIU Lai-har
Mr. KWOK Lit-tung

Official Members :
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
Director of Lands

3. Draft Ma Wan Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

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

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Ma Wan area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 24).

The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 100.6 hectares of land, comprises Ma Wan and Tang Lung Chau.

Two pieces of land located in the northeastern and western parts of Ma Wan are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" (CDA). The northeastern "CDA" site, covering about 21.2 hectares, is being developed for a comprehensive residential development. The western "CDA" site, covering about nine hectares, is proposed for comprehensive development/redevelopment of the existing Ma Wan Town area for low-rise, low density recreation, commercial and/or tourism uses.

About 7.9 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" to provide land for the relocation of existing village houses, fishermen's village and squatters affected by development projects in Ma Wan, and for development of small houses by indigenous villagers of the island.

Some 23.5 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" designated for "Recreation and Tourism Related Uses", "Traditional Burial Area", "Highway Maintenance Area" and "Pier" respectively.

To meet the needs of the local residents as well as the general public, about one hectare of land is zoned "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses, and about 1.1 hectares is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to provide facilities such as service reservoir, police post and fire station.

About 31.8 hectares of land is zoned "Green Belt" to conserve the existing natural environment amid the built-up areas, to safeguard it from encroachment by urban type development, and to provide additional outlets for passive recreational activities.

The approved Ma Wan OZP No. S/I-MWI/12 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office, the Tsuen Wan District Office and the Ma Wan Rural Committee.

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

4. Draft Tseng Lan Shue Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Tseng Lan Shue Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Tseng Lan Shue area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 24).

The Planning Scheme Area of the Tseng Lan Shue OZP covers about 426 hectares of land. It is bounded by Hiram's Highway in the east, Ma On Shan Country Park in the north, Fei Ngo Shan in the west, and Tai Sheung Tok and Tseung Kwan O in the south.

The planning intention for the area is primarily to conserve the natural landscape features and the rural character of the area. Except for the village expansion areas designated to meet the outstanding small house demand of the recognised villages, the planning intention is to confine residential developments to the already established areas mainly along Fei Ngo Shan Road and Razor Hill Road and in Ta Ku Ling San Tsuen, as well as to maintain such developments to their existing and committed intensity.

It is also intended to phase out incompatible industrial activities in Lung Wo Tsuen, Tan Shan and Ma Yau Tong, and to upgrade the obsolete and sub-standard housing stock with the provision of the necessary basic infrastructure.

Some 176.7 hectares of the woodland and well-vegetated hillslopes is zoned "Conservation Area" while about 144.2 hectares of the lower hillslopes, vegetated land and roadside amenity areas is zoned "Green Belt".

About 38.4 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" while some 24.2 hectares and 7.4 hectares are zoned "Residential (Group C)" and "Residential (Group D)" respectively.

To serve the population in the Area, the existing shopping centre at Razor Hill Road of about 0.1 hectare is zoned "Commercial" and some 13.1 hectares is zoned "Government, Institution or Community". Three petrol filling station sites along Clear Water Bay Road are zoned "Other Specified Uses".

The approved Tseng Lan Shue OZP No. S/SK-TLS/8 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Sai Kung District Office, the Sai Kung Rural Committee and the Hang Hau Rural Committee.

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

5. Draft Hebe Haven Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

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

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Hebe Haven area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 24).

The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 370 hectares of land, comprises the entire coastal areas of Hebe Haven and the surrounding hillslopes. The planning intention of the area is primarily to conserve the natural landscape features and the rural character of the Area, and to promote marine-related recreational uses along the coastal front of Hebe Haven.

About 113.7 hectares, 36.7 hectares and 21.7 hectares of land are zoned "Conservation Area", "Coastal Protection Area" and "Green Belt" respectively. Besides, about 127.5 hectares in the Ma On Shan Country Park is zoned " Country Park".

Some 4.9 hectares of land is zoned "Recreation" for recreational developments to promote marine-related recreational uses.

About 25.7 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") for the existing Marina Cove as "OU(Residential cum Marina Development)" and for the existing public pier at Pak Sha Wan as "OU(Pier)".

About 23.7 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" while 5.6 hectares and 0.9 hectare of land are zoned "Residential (Group C)" and "Residential (Group D)" respectively.

To serve the population in the Area, the existing commercial cluster near the Pak Sha Wan Public Pier of about 0.3 hectare is zoned "Commercial". Moreover, some 2.9 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" and 0.3 hectare of land is zoned "Open Space".

The approved Hebe Haven OZP No. S/SK-HH/6 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Sai Kung District Office and the Sai Kung Rural Committee.

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

6. Draft Lam Tei and Yick Yuen Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Lam Tei and Yick Yuen Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Lam Tei and Yick Yuen area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 24).

The Planning Scheme Area of the Lam Tei and Yick Yuen OZP covers about 532 hectares of land and is situated in the north of the Tuen Mun New Town.

An area of about 0.7 hectare near San Hing Tsuen is zoned "Commercial" to provide commercial and shopping facilities to the local residents. Two sites, one near Lam Tei Tsuen and the other near Fuk Hang Tsuen, totalling about 7 hectares are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" to facilitate comprehensive development/redevelopment for residential use with the provision of commercial, open space and any other supporting facilities.

Areas designated for residential developments are mainly located adjacent to Castle Peak Road and Fuk Hang Tsuen Road. About 15 hectares of areas are zoned "Residential (Group B)" and 17.5 hectares zoned "Residential (Group C)".

Areas surrounding Tsoi Yuen Tsuen and Fuk Hang Tsuen, as well as an area to the north-east of Tsing Chuen Wai, with 33.5 hectares in total, are zoned "Residential (Group D)" to facilitate residential upgrading of the existing temporary domestic accommodation.

About 11.5 hectares of land to the south-west of San Hing Tsuen are zoned "Residential (Group E)" to encourage phasing out of existing industrial uses.

About 103 hectares of land in the existing recognised villages and areas considered suitable for village expansion are zoned "Village Type Development".

About 9 hectares and 2.5 hectares of land are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" and "Open Space" respectively to serve local and district needs.

Three sites totalling close to 30 hectares are zoned "Other Specified Uses" annotated for the respective uses currently on site, namely quarry, refuse transfer station and petrol filling stations.

The rest of the area is undeveloped land which is either zoned "Green Belt" or "Conservation Area", taking up about 132 hectares and 152 hectares respectively.

The approved OZP No. S/TM-LTYY/6 is available for public inspection during normal office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department, the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Planning Office, the Tuen Mun District Office and the Tuen Mun Rural Committee.

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

7. Draft Yuen Long Outline Zoning Plan approved
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

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 (March 24).

The Yuen Long area covers an area of about 561 hectares. Seven sites totaling about 24 hectares are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" for comprehensive development/redevelopment for residential and/or commercial uses to fully utilise the development potential of being located near the West Rail stations or Light Rail Transit (LRT) terminus.

Various sites of about seven hectares along Castle Peak Road are zoned "Commercial/Residential". Sites intended for high-density residential developments, covers about 60 hectares, are zoned "Residential (Group A)". They include mainly the public housing estates and sites around the central area of the Yuen Long Town proper.

About 34 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group B)" for medium-density residential development. A site of about 0.8 hectare at Wang Chau Road is zoned "Residential (Group E)" to encourage the phasing out of existing industrial uses through redevelopment for residential purpose.

The existing villages and land reserved for village expansion, covering a total area of about 99 hectares, are zoned "Village Type Development".

A number of sites of about 109 hectares are zoned "Other Specified Uses" (OU). They include the "OU(Business)" zone at Tung Tau Industrial Area, and other "OU" sites earmarked for petrol filling station, sewage treatment works, Yuen Long Industrial Estate.

About 40.9 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community". The major existing facilities within this zone include the Yuen Long Swimming Pool Complex, Yuen Long Town Hall, Yuen Long Theatre, a divisional fire station, a police station, Government offices and a bus terminus.

About 51.6 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space", covering a town park, a sports ground, a town square, and a strip of land of about 80m wide to the north of Yuen Long Highway serving as a buffer for the residential and village areas to the north of the highway. Besides, three well-vegetated knolls are zoned "Green Belt" to preserve their existing natural settings.

The approved Yuen Long OZP No. S/YL/15 is now available for public inspection during normal office hours at:

* 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;

* Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Planning Office, 14/F, Sha Tin Government Offices;

* Yuen Long District Office, Yuen Long District Office Building, 269 Castle Peak Road;

* Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee, Main Road, Yuen Long; and

* Ping Shan District Rural Committee, 139-147 On Ning Road, Yuen Long.

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

8. Draft Aberdeen & Ap Lei Chau OZP amended
Hong Kong Government, 24 March 2006

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/).