The existing Town Planning Ordinance was first enacted in 1939. To meet the needs of the changing social and economic environment in Hong Kong, there is a need to revise the legislation.

    The Town Planning Bill proposing an overhaul of the statutory planning system was gazetted in January 2000 and introduced into the Legislative Council the next month. A Bills Committee was formed in March to consider the bill and the public submissions on it. Owing to the complexity of the issues involved, the Bills Committee was not able to complete consideration of the bill within the 1998–2000 term of the council, and it was dissolved after nine meetings. Since then, the Administration has taken the opportunity to review the bill's proposals in the light of the comments received and the changing socio-economic conditions.

    While there is a general consensus on the need to streamline the planning procedures and to promote public participation, views on certain complex policy issues are diverse. These issues need to be resolved after further consultation with the stakeholders. Since there is a strong demand in the community to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the present planning system, the Administration has decided to propose amendments to the Town Planning Ordinance in stages, giving priority to those amendments which have general consensus and would produce more immediate benefits to the community.

    The first-stage amendments will focus on streamlining the planning approval procedures, expediting the plan-making process, enhancing the openness and user friendliness of the planning system and strengthening planning enforcement control. It is anticipated that the first-stage amendments will be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2003.