The Town Planning Board today (February 14) announced amendments to the approved Tseung Kwan O Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     The amendments are mainly to take forward the proposed developments at Tseung Kwan O Areas 137 and 132 for a new community primarily for residential purposes and accommodation of public facilities serving the region, which marine frontage is required for their operation respectively, and to reflect the proposed reclamation boundary and the existing boundary of Clear Water Bay Country Park. The amendments mainly involve (i) incorporation of two sea areas in Fat Tong O into the planning scheme area, zoning the areas and/or rezoning the adjoining land from "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated "Deep Waterfront Industry" ("OU(DWI)") and/or "OU" annotated "Desalination Plant" to "Residential (Group A) 9", "Residential (Group A) 10", "Residential (Group A) 11", "Residential (Group A) 12", "OU” annotated "Commercial/Residential Development with Public Transport Interchange (1)", "Government, Institution or Community (10)" ("G/IC(10)"), "Open Space", "OU" annotated "Effluent Polishing Plant", "OU" annotated "Green Fuel Station", "Green Belt" ("GB") and an area shown as 'Road'; (ii) rezoning of a site in Fat Tong Chau from "GB" and "OU(DWI)" to "G/IC(10)"; (iii) incorporation of a site occupied by a pier near Tit Cham Chau into the planning scheme area, zoning the site and rezoning the adjoining land from "OU(DWI)" to "OU" annotated "Pier"; (iv) incorporation of a sea area in Chiu Keng Wan into the planning scheme area, zoning the area and/or rezoning the adjoining land from "GB" to "OU" annotated "Electricity Facilities", "OU" annotated "Construction Waste Handling Facility and Public Fill Transfer Facility", "OU" annotated "Refuse Transfer Station", "OU" annotated "Concrete Batching Plant", "G/IC(10)", "G/IC", and an area shown as 'Road'; (v) incorporation of four sites near Chiu Keng Wan into the planning scheme area and zoning the sites to "GB"; and (vi) excision of five sites within "OU(DWI)" zone from the planning scheme area.

     The Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP are amended to take into account the above amendments. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zones and the planning scheme area, where appropriate.

     The draft Tseung Kwan O OZP No. S/TKO/31, incorporating the amendments, is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Sai Kung and Islands District Planning Office, (iv) the Sai Kung District Office, and (v) the Hang Hau Rural Committee.

     Any person may make written representations in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before April 14. Any person who intends to make a representation is advised to read the Town Planning Board Guidelines No. 29C on "Submission and Processing of Representations and Further Representations" (TPB PG-No. 29C).

     Submission of a representation should comply with the requirements set out in TPB PG-No. 29C. In particular, the representer should take note of the following:

* If the representer fails to provide his or her full name and the first four alphanumeric characters of his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport number as required under TPB PG-No. 29C, the representation submitted shall be treated as not having been made; and
* The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.

     The Guidelines and the submission form are available at the above locations (i) and (ii) and the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

     Copies of the draft Tseung Kwan O OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 14) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
 
     Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
 
     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, an 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 EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, February 14, 2025 is 106.9 (down 0.3 against yesterday's index).

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) has been mounting territory-wide special enforcement actions in phases at domestic and composite buildings since July 2024. During the operation, the FSD inspected 124 such buildings in Tsuen Wan District and issued 23 warning letters to relevant incorporated owners, reminding them to submit valid fire service installations and equipment certificates before the specified deadline.
      
     Eight incorporated owners involving 11 buildings in Tsuen Wan District (listed in the Annex) were prosecuted by the FSD for failing to conduct annual inspections of fire service installations or equipment on their premises. They were convicted and fined a total of $25,900 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday (February 13).
      
     According to the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations, any person who owns any fire service installation or equipment installed in any premises commits an offence if they fail to have such fire service installation or equipment inspected by a registered contractor at least once in every 12 months. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000.
      
     The FSD will continue to conduct territory-wide special enforcement actions in various districts and remind owners of fire service installations or equipment in the premises to have such fire service installations or equipment inspected by a registered contractor at least once in every 12 months.

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (February 14) the appointment of Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation (ACBHC), as well as the appointment of six new members and the reappointment of 11 incumbent members for a two-year term until December 31, 2026.
      
     The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, "The ACBHC is an important advisory body, providing invaluable advice on built heritage conservation to the DEVB. I am confident that with his extensive experience as the Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board during the past six years, Professor So will capably lead the work of the ACBHC. I look forward to working closely with the Committee in taking forward various initiatives.
      
     "I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Professor Desmond Hui Cheuk-kuen, and seven outgoing non-official members, Professor Ching May-bo, Ms Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan, Ms Renee Hue Yi-yan, Dr Samantha Kong Wing-man, Mr Jeffrey Kwok Pak-wai, Ms Sharon Liu Chung-gay and Dr Chloe Suen Yin-wah for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the Committee."
      
     The ACBHC was established in 2016 to advise the Government on the operation of the Built Heritage Conservation Fund. The new term of the ACBHC comprises members from different fields and professions including architecture, historical research, social enterprise, engineering, surveying, town planning, heritage conservation, finance, business, public education as well as arts and culture.
      
     The membership of the new term of the ACBHC is set out below:
 
Chairman
————
Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak*  
 
Non-official members
—————————
Mr David Chak Wing-pong
Mr Joel Chan Cho-sing
Mr Jason Cheung King-wai
Ms Dorothy Chow Yeuk-yu*
Dr Fok Yeung-yeung
Mr Chris Lee Tsz-leung
Mr Li Man-hong*
Ms Yanice Mak Wing-yan
Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing
Ms Clara Shek Ka-lai
Ms Karen Tang Shuk-tak
Ms Anita Wan Wai-ling*
Mr Ronald Wu Keng-hou*
Miss Theresa Yeung Wing-shan*
Ms Winnie Yip*
Mr Plato Yip Kwong-to
Mr Yu Ka-sing 

Official members
———————
Commissioner for Heritage, Development Bureau
Assistant Director of Architectural Services (Property Services)
Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Heritage and Museums)
 
* New members