The Town Planning Board today (September 21) announced amendments to the approved Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     The amendments mainly involve rezoning of an area at In Ku Lane from "Government, Institution or Community" to an area shown as "Pedestrian Precinct/Street". Opportunity is also taken to amend the Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendment and to update the general information of various land use zonings and the planning area, where appropriate.
     â€‹
     The draft Urban Renewal Authority Queen's Road West/In Ku Lane Development Scheme Plan (DSP) No. S/H3/URA3/1 has replaced that part of the draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan OZP No. S/H3/32 delineated and described in the DSP from the date the exhibition of the DSP is first notified in the Gazette on September 21.
      
     The draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan OZP No. S/H3/32, 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 Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Central and Western District Office.

     Any person can make written representations in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Board on or before November 21. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan 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).

     The Town Planning Board today (September 21) announced the publication of the draft Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Queen's Road West/In Ku Lane Development Scheme Plan (DSP) No. S/H3/URA3/1.
     â€‹
     The scheme area covers about 0.2 hectares and is designated as "Residential (Group A)23". The scheme is for a composite residential/commercial development with a government refuse collection point, a public toilet, a neighbourhood elderly centre sub-base and a public open space. The affected five-a-side soccer pitch of Li Sing Street Playground within the scheme area, and the adjacent basketball court, will be reprovided with a re-arranged layout, and will be implemented as advance works of the proposed development.

     In accordance with section 25(9) of the URA Ordinance, the draft DSP replaces the draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan in relation to the area delineated and described in the draft DSP.
      
     The draft Queen's Road West/In Ku Lane DSP No. S/H3/URA3/1 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 Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Central and Western District Office.

     Any person can make written representations in respect of the draft DSP to the Secretary of the Board on or before November 21. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft DSP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed at the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, September 21, 2018 is 104.4 (up 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 20) seized 572 suspected smuggled smartphones and 124 suspected smuggled mobile phone parts with an estimated market value of about $510,000 at Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     Customs officers yesterday intercepted an outgoing private vehicle at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and found the batch of suspected smuggled smartphones and mobile phone parts on board the vehicle.

     The 57-year-old male driver was arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting library patrons to take part in a series of Reader Liaison Group tea gatherings to express their views on library services and make suggestions for the improvement of library facilities and services.

     The tea gatherings will be held from October 6 to 21 at the following public libraries with details as below:
 

  
     Online registration at www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/about-us/services/rlg-reg-form.html is available. Interested patrons may also reserve a seat by completing the reservation form available at all public libraries or downloaded from www.hkpl.gov.hk/enrlgform. Completed forms should be returned by fax to 2415 8211 or email to hotline-lib@lcsd.gov.hk.  In addition, patrons may also provide comments and suggestions through the online feedback form www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/about-us/services/rlg-feedback-form.html.
      
     Details and schedule of the tea gatherings have been posted in all public libraries and uploaded on www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/about-us/services/tea-gathering.html. For enquiries, please call 2921 0208 during office hours.