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Development projects are implemented in accordance with statutory or
departmental district plans. These plans aim to regulate and provide guidance
to development in terms of land use, building density and development
characteristics, and to ensure that they are in line with planning objectives
of the districts.
The Town Planning Board is set up under the Town Planning Ordinance to
prepare statutory plans to show the broad land use framework of specific
areas, including major roads and other transport systems, and provide
statutory planning controls through land use zoning and specification
of development parameters. Two types of statutory plans are prepared:
outline zoning plans (OZPs) and development permission area (DPA) plans.
DPA plans are similar to OZPs but they are interim
plans covering rural areas of the New Territories and would be eventually
replaced by OZPs. Development scheme plans (DSPs) prepared by the former
Land Development Corporation and its successor, the Urban Renewal Authority,
also require approval by the board.
In 2003, two new OZPs and one new URA DSP were published
by the board. The board also amended 60 statutory plans. At year-end,
there were 105 OZPs, two DPA plans, eight LDC DSPs and one URA DSP.
Under the Town Planning Ordinance, any person affected
by statutory plans on exhibition for public inspection, including DSPs,
may lodge objections with the board. In 2003, there were 94 objections.
The board gave preliminary consideration to 87 objections and further
consideration to 80 objections (including those brought forward from previous
years). Draft plans, together with objections not withdrawn and amendments
made to meet objections, will be submitted to the Chief Executive in Council
(CE in C) for approval. In 2003, 33 statutory plans were submitted to
the CE in C for approval. The CE in C also referred 70 approved plans
and one draft plan back to the board for amendment.
A set of notes is attached to each statutory plan,
indicating the uses in particular zones that are always permitted and
those uses for which the board's permission must be sought. In 2003, the
board considered 883 applications for planning permission and reviewed
its decisions on 139 planning applications.
Applicants who are aggrieved by the decisions of the
board on review may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal
Board. The Appeal Board heard eight cases in 2003: seven were dismissed
and one was allowed.
The Town Planning Board also promulgates guidelines
for applications for developments in areas covered by statutory plans.
In 2003, it promulgated seven sets of revised guidelines. Altogether,
21 sets of guidelines were in force.
Apart from statutory plans, the Planning Department prepares departmental
outline development plans (ODPs) and layout plans (LPs) for individual
districts or planning areas to show the planned land uses, development
restrictions and transport networks in greater detail. There were 77 ODPs
and 299 LPs covering Hong Kong in 2003. |
