Page 45 - TPB Report 2018-20_EN

Part 3

Other Major Work of 2018-2020

Protecting the Countryside

To strike a balance between the need for socio-economic development and protection of the natural
scenic and rural character of the countryside from uncontrolled development, the Board has continued
the plan-making work for areas of ecological, conservation and/or heritage importance, including the
country park enclaves.

There are 77 country park enclaves (enclaves) across the territory, of which 52 have been covered by
34 OZPs. The planning objectives of the statutory plans for the enclaves are to preserve their natural
environment and rural setting whilst allowing for sustainable village development therein, in that a
proper balance should be struck between conservation and social development needs. A conservation-
led approach has been adopted in formulating the land use zonings of the OZPs, on which most of
the land in the enclaves are protected by conservation zonings such as “Conservation Area”, “Coastal

Protection Area” and “GB” zones. Village development would be allowed in a sustainable manner
through an incremental approach by first confining the “Village Type Development” (“V”) zone to
the existing village settlements and adjoining land so as to minimise adverse impacts on the natural
environment.

During the report period, five OZPs involving enclaves were approved by the CE in C. The Board also
agreed to the publication of four Development Permission Area (DPA) Plans in Lantau to provide interim
planning control and to prevent unauthorized development pending preparation of OZPs.

TOWN PLANNING BOARD REPORT 2018-2020 43