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 the planning objectives of the districts.

Statutory Planning

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, the Town Planning Board is responsible for preparing statutory plans that give a broad framework for land use in specific areas including major roads and other transport systems, and providing statutory planning controls through land use zoning and specification of development parameters. Two types of statutory plans are prepared: outline zoning plans and development permission area plans.

Development permission area plans are similar to outline zoning plans except that they are interim plans, they cover rural areas of the New Territories and they are eventually replaced by outline zoning plans. Development scheme plans prepared by the former Land Development Corporation and its successor, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), also require approval by the TPB.

In 2005, three new outline zoning plans and two new Urban Renewal Authority development scheme plans were published by the TPB. The TPB also amended 82 statutory plans. At year-end, there were 109 outline zoning plans, eight Land Development Corporation development scheme plans and three Urban Renewal Authority development scheme plans.

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, any person affected by statutory plans on exhibition for public inspection, including development scheme plans, may lodge objections/representations with the TPB. In 2005, there were 103 objections/representations. The TPB gave preliminary consideration/hearing to 104 objections/representations and further consideration to 163 objections (including those brought forward from previous years). Draft plans, together with objections and amendments made to meet objections, are submitted to the Chief Executive in Council for approval. During the year, 28 statutory plans were submitted to the Chief Executive in Council for approval. He also referred 23 approved plans back to the TPB 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 TPB's permission must be sought. In 2005, the TPB considered 857 applications for planning permission and reviewed its decisions on 124 planning applications.

Applicants who are aggrieved by the decisions of the TPB on review may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal Board. The appeal board heard seven cases in 2005: Four were dismissed, two were allowed and one is yet to be decided.

The TPB considered six applications for amendments of statutory plans after the Town Planning (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 came into effect in June 2005.

The TPB also promulgates guidelines for applications for developments in areas covered by statutory plans. In 2005, it promulgated 10 sets of new guidelines and one set of revised guidelines. By year-end, there were 29 sets of guidelines.

Meetings of the TPB have been open to the public since the Town Planning (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 came into force on June 10, 2005, with the exception of the deliberation sessions and confidential items specified in the law. The public can observe the proceedings from a Public Viewing Room on the 15th floor of the North Point Government Offices.

Departmental Plans

At district level, the District Planning Offices of the Planning Department prepare departmental outline development plans and layout plans for individual districts or planning areas to show the planned land uses, development restrictions and transport networks in greater detail. There were 77 outline development plans and 298 layout plans covering Hong Kong in 2005.