Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Buildings Department (BD) announced today (March 20) that the opening hours of the Receipt and Dispatch Counter (R&D Counter) for its New Buildings Divisions at 7/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong will resume as normal, starting from next Monday (March 23). The R&D Counter will open from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) for receiving statutory submissions and related documents, and forms for new building works. Applicants can also collect processed plans and related documents from the R&D Counter by appointment made by the department. 
 
     The meeting rooms (except for meetings essential to meet statutory requirements and recruitment interviews) and the interview rooms in the BD’s offices will continue to be not open to the public until further notice.
 
     The BD appeals to the public to minimise visiting the department’s offices in person unless they genuinely require its public services urgently. The public can call 1823 to make emergency reports. For general enquiries and other reports, they may call 1823 or inform the department by email (enquiry@bd.gov.hk), online reporting (eform.one.gov.hk/form/bd0001/en/), fax (2537 4992) or post (Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon). In addition, electronic information can be submitted to the department via receipt@bd.gov.hk.
 

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     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, March 20, 2020 is 109.2 (up 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 20) released the latest grading of water quality for eight gazetted beaches (see Note).     
   
     Eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Big Wave Bay Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach	Stanley Main Beach

 
     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.
      
     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.
      
Note: To tie in with the response level under the “Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance” having been raised to the Emergency Response Level and to encourage people to avoid gathering, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that all beaches will continue to be temporarily closed until further notice. read more

     The Town Planning Board today (March 20) announced amendments to the draft So Lo Pun Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     In response to the Court’s rulings on a judicial review against the decision of the Chief Executive in Council made to approve the three draft OZPs for Pak Lap, Hoi Ha and So Lo Pun and the decision of the Board made to submit the three draft OZPs to the Chief Executive in Council for approval, the Board has reviewed the issue on the genuine need for Small House development in respect of the So Lo Pun OZP.

     The Board has now made amendments to the So Lo Pun OZP as outlined in the Schedule of Amendments. The amendments mainly involve rezoning of two pieces of land at the north-eastern and southern parts of the “Village Type Development” zone to “Agriculture”. Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The draft So Lo Pun OZP No. S/NE-SLP/3, incorporating the amendments is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board; the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin; the Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Planning Office; the North District Office; and the Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee.
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     Any person may make written representation in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Board on or before May 20. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft So Lo Pun 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 Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb). read more

     The Town Planning Board today (March 20) announced amendments to the draft Pak Lap Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     In response to the Court’s rulings on a judicial review against the decision of the Chief Executive in Council made to approve the three draft OZPs for Pak Lap, Hoi Ha and So Lo Pun and the decision of the Board made to submit the three draft OZPs to the Chief Executive in Council for approval, the Board has reviewed the issue on the genuine need for Small House development in respect of the Pak Lap OZP.

     The Board has now made amendments to the Pak Lap OZP as outlined in the Schedule of Amendments. The amendments mainly involve rezoning of an area to the south of the village cluster at Pak Lap from “Village Type Development” to “Government, Institution or Community (1)” (“G/IC(1)”) and an area further to the south of the village cluster at Pak Lap from “G/IC” to “Conservation Area”. Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The draft Pak Lap OZP No. S/SK-PL/3, incorporating the amendments, is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, the Sai Kung District Office and the Sai Kung Rural Committee.
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     Any person may make written representation in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Board on or before May 20. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft Pak Lap 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 Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb). read more