Author Archives: hksar gov

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, June 7, 2024 is 106 (down 0.2 against yesterday’s index). read more

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Sha Tin Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     “The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment in the Sha Tin area,” a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (June 7).

     The planning scheme area covers about 2 777 hectares. Its inner core lies at the bottom of Sha Tin Valley, which is separated from Kowloon by a range of hills dominated by Lion Rock and Sugar Loaf Peak. Ma On Shan, the extension to Sha Tin New Town, lies to the north-east of the area.
      
     The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Sha Tin OZP No. S/ST/37, which mainly involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Wong Chuk Yeung Street and Kwei Tei San Chuen Road from “Green Belt” (“GB”) to “Residential (Group A)8” for public housing development; (ii) rezoning a site to the northeast of Shan Mei Street from “Industrial” to “Government, Institution or Community” (“G/IC”) to facilitate the development of a Joint-user Complex; (iii) rezoning two sites to the north and south of On Sum Street from “G/IC” and “Open Space” (“O”) respectively to “Commercial (1)” (“C(1)”) for commercial developments; (iv) rezoning a site at the junction on Yuen Hong Street and Yuen Shun Circuit from “G/IC” to “C(1)” for commercial development; (v) rezoning a site at Sha Tin Wai Road from “O” to “Residential (Group A) 9” for private residential development; (vi) rezoning a site at Chap Wai Kon Street from “G/IC” to “Residential (Group A) 10” for private residential development; (vii) rezoning a site on Yuen Hong Street from “Industrial (1)” to “Commercial (2)” to reflect a completed hotel development; (viii) rezoning a site on Tung Lo Wan Hill Road from “GB” and “G/IC” to “Residential (Group B)3” for private residential development; (ix) rezoning a site to the north of Mei Tin Road from “Residential (Group B)” and “GB” to “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Religious Institution with Columbarium” to take forward an agreed section 12A application for religious institution and columbarium use; and (x) rezoning a site to the south of Chek Nai Ping on Tai Po Road (Ma Liu Shui) from “GB” to “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Columbarium (2)” to take forward an agreed section 12A application for columbarium development.

     The Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP have been amended taking into account the above amendments. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zones and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The approved Sha Tin OZP No. S/ST/38 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office, (iv) the Sha Tin District Office and the Ma On Shan Sub-office of the Sha Tin District Office, and (v) the Sha Tin Rural Committee.

     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Ming Lun Street/Ma Tau Kok Road Development Scheme Plan (DSP).

     “The approved DSP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the implementation of the URA Ming Lun Street/Ma Tau Kok Road Development Scheme”, a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (June 7).

     The development scheme area covering about 1.1 hectares is designated as “Residential (Group A)” and area shown as ‘Road’. The DSP intends to achieve a holistic replanning of land uses together with the adjoining urban fabric at the To Kwa Wan Road/Ma Tau Kok Road Development Scheme to expedite redevelopment for a comprehensively designed waterfront development fitting in with the redevelopment intention of the “5 Streets” area in Ma Tau Kok. Waterfront promenade, retail belt and non-building area as designated on the DSP as well as government, institution or community facilities will be provided within the scheme area to meet community needs.

     The approved DSP No. S/K22/URA1/2 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Kowloon District Planning Office and (iv) the Kowloon City District Office.

     Copies of the approved DSP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the DSP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Urban Renewal Authority (URA) To Kwa Wan Road/Ma Tau Kok Road Development Scheme Plan (DSP).

     “The approved DSP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the implementation of the URA To Kwa Wan Road/Ma Tau Kok Road Development Scheme”, a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (June 7).

     The development scheme area covering about 0.9 hectares is designated as “Residential (Group A)” and area shown as ‘Road’. The DSP intends to achieve a holistic replanning of land uses together with the adjoining urban fabric at the Ming Lun Street/Ma Tau Kok Road Development Scheme to expedite redevelopment for a comprehensively designed waterfront development fitting in with the redevelopment intention of the “5 Streets” area in Ma Tau Kok. Waterfront promenade, retail belt and non-building area as designated on the DSP as well as government, institution or community facilities will be provided within the scheme area to meet community needs.

     The approved DSP No. S/K22/URA2/2 is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Kowloon District Planning Office and (iv) the Kowloon City District Office.

     Copies of the approved DSP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the DSP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hk). read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 7) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).

     Thirteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2), five as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	South Bay Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	St. Stephen’s Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Middle Bay Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers’ Beach*	Kwun Yam Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach*	Lido Beach*
Butterfly Beach*	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Pui O Beach*
Casam Beach*	Shek O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Golden Beach*	Trio Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Cafeteria Old Beach	Ting Kau Beach*
Kadoorie Beach

Grade 4 beach is:

Castle Peak Beach

     Compared with the grading released last week, Anglers’ Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 4.

     “We observed water quality deterioration at Castle Peak Beach, which was largely due to the recent prolonged unstable weather. We will continue to closely monitor the beach water quality,” an EPD spokesman said.

     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD’s beach thematic website.

Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).

Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service. read more