Draft of Pak Lap plan gets approved

 The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Pak Lap Development Permission Area Plan.

"The approved DPA Plan is to provide planning guidance and to facilitate development control within the Pak Lap area during the period required for detailed analysis of the land use pattern, study of infrastructural provisions and examination of development options for the formulation of an outline zoning plan," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said. 

The Planning Scheme Area, which comprises about 6.8 hectares is completely encircled by the Sai Kung East Country Park.  There are mountain ranges to its east, north and west.  To the south of the Area is scenic coastline, including the beach of Pak Lap Wan which has also been designated as part of the Sai Kung East Country Park.  The Area is characterised by a rural and countryside ambience, comprising mainly village houses, shrubland, woodland, grassland, fallow agricultural land and streamcourses.   
 
The whole Area is designated as "Unspecified Use".  This land use designation is primarily intended to give statutory protection to the Area subject to further studies.  Under this land use designation, apart from the "Agricultural Use" and some uses which are always permitted under the covering Notes of the Plan, all uses and developments will require planning permission from the Board.  Additionally, if diversion of stream, land filling/excavation or pond filling is required for the always-permitted uses, except the public works implemented and co-ordinated by the Government, permission from the Board will be required.  This control will help properly regulate and control the existing topography and natural vegetation.