1  Land at landmark temple rezoned for public use
Joyce Ng, SCMP 23 August 2008

Two vacant plots outside Wong Tai Sin Temple will be rezoned as open space to benefit residents and tourists. The space in front of the temple is used for holding bazaars and variety shows.

The sites facing Lung Cheung Road, with an area of 8,561 square metres, were zoned for residential and government, institutional or community use.

The Planning Department suggests categorising the lots as open space in an amended zoning plan for Tsz Wan Shan, Diamond Hill and San Po Kong, which was gazetted yesterday.

The government earlier revealed plans to turn the area into a park to accommodate the temple's expansion. It will erect covered walkways and improve lighting.

The amended plan also imposes height restrictions for the San Po Kong area, a former industrial site north of Kai Tak, to increase air flow, which the department said was weak because of its narrow streets.

To allow prevailing summer winds to blow from south to north, part of the residential area falling within the air path will be subject to a height limit of 22 metres.

In the business zone, two "non-building areas" of a minimum width of 3 metres and 1.5 metres will be provided abutting King Fuk Street and Prince Edward Road East to improve the air flow and streetscape.

The amended plan also imposes height restrictions, ranging from 120 to 160 metres, on seven public housing estates in the district including Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate, Fung Tak Estate, and Chuk Yuen North and South estates. Surveyor Pang Siu-kei said the height limits were unlikely to have much impact.

"The district is dominated by public housing and we don't see any redevelopment projects upcoming. The height limit should not have implications in terms of lowering redevelopment potential," he said.