Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (February 8):
Question:
The Planning Department completed the Review of Rural Land Uses in Northern New Territories (the Review) in 2001, proposing to relax the plot ratio control of "Residential (Group D)" zone from 0.2 to 0.4 and to examine the "Agriculture" and "Recreation" zones of which the functions are not in line with their respective stated planning intentions, as well as to clarify the functions and planning intentions of these areas through zoning amendment. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total area of land in the New Territories which is zoned as "Residential (Group D)" and "Agriculture" zones at present; and among such area, the respective areas which are Government-owned and privately-owned;
(b) whether the authorities have implemented the proposal of relaxing the plot ratio control of "Residential (Group D)" zone put forward in the Review; if they have, of the total area of land of which the plot ratio control has been relaxed; and among such area, the respective areas which are Government-owned and privately-owned; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) of the total area of "Agriculture" zone which the authorities have proactively examined since the completion of the Review; and among such area, the area of agricultural land of which the use has been changed (with a breakdown by area and amended land use)?
Reply:
President,
The Government has all along strived to provide sufficient land to meet the needs of housing and socio-economic development in Hong Kong. Under such premises, we conduct timely land use reviews in all districts, including those for rural land, with a view to achieving optimal land use.
The Review of Rural Land Uses in Northern New Territories (the Review), completed by the Planning Department (PlanD) in 2001, was primarily on the "Agriculture" ("AGR") zone and three development-related zones used in the rural statutory plans for northern New Territories, namely "Residential (Group D)"("R(D)"), "Industrial (Group D)"("I(D)") and "Recreation" ("REC"). The Review aimed to preserve high-quality agricultural land systematically for the sustainable development of the local agriculture industry. It also took into account the capacity of local infrastructure in considering the relaxation of development intensity of "R(D)" zones and rezoning of some low quality agricultural land with low ecological value into other land-use zones, such as the "Other Specified Uses" annotated "Rural Use" ("OU(Rural Use)") zone with a view to fully optimising the use of rural land. For the agricultural land within "OU(Rural Use)" zone, applications could be made to the Town Planning Board for a selected range of rural and recreational uses which could improve the environment of the area concerned, preserve the character of the rural area and achieve an effective use of land resources.
My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) There is currently a total of 465 ha of land zoned "R(D)" in the New Territories. Among them, about 185 ha (40%) is Government land and about 280 ha (60%) is privately owned. There is also a total of 3,280 ha of land zoned "AGR" in the New Territories. Among them, about 1,100 ha (34%) is Government land and about 2,180 ha (66%) is privately owned.
(b) The Review was completed in the early 2000s. It recommended that PlanD should consider reviewing individual "R(D)" zones and assess the suitability of increasing their plot ratio (PR) from 0.2 to 0.4 taking account of the local infrastructure capacity. Given the relatively poor access and the general constraints in infrastructure provision in the rural areas, it also proposed that planning approval should be required for new residential development on "R(D)" sites.
In accordance with the recommendations of the review report, PlanD conducted a study on "R(D)" sites. PlanD relaxed the PR of the "R(D)" zone of four Outline Zoning Plans (OZPs) (namely Kam Tin North, Tai Tong, Tai Po and Nam Sang Wai) from 0.2 to 0.4 where infrastructure capacity could cope [Note: Under the Nam Sang Wai OZP, 16.12 ha of land is zoned "R(D)". Among them, about 4 ha of land is zoned "R(D)1" with a maximum PR of 0.4 while the remaining land maintains a PR of 0.2]. PlanD also imposed a maximum PR of 0.4 for the "R(D)" sites of 4.35 ha under the new Yim Tin Tsai and Ma Shi Chau Development Permission Area Plan. The "R(D)" zones with a maximum PR of 0.4 in those five statutory plans involve about 40 ha of land, with about 13 ha (33%) being government land and about 27 ha (67%) being privately owned.
(c) The Review also recommended the Government to preserve good quality agricultural land for the sustainable development of the local agriculture industry and rezone the other low quality agricultural land for other uses such as "OU(Rural Use)" to support rural development. PlanD consulted relevant government departments, including the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, on such proposal. 63 ha of land zoned "AGR" has subsequently been rezoned for other uses such as "OU(Rural Use)", "Village Type Development", "Open Storage", "Drainage Channel" and "Road", "Comprehensive Development and Wetland Enhancement Area", "Residential (Group C)", "Government, Institution or Community", "Conservation Area" and "Green Belt" etc. Relevant information is detailed at Annex.
Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:54
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