The Town Planning Board announced today (January 15) that the Chief Executive in Council has referred the approved Shek Kip Mei Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to the Board for amendment to reflect the latest land use proposals.

     The OZP incorporating the respective amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.

     The Shek Kip Mei OZP was last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in July 2015.

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Pok Fu Lam Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Pok Fu Lam area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (January 15).
 
     The planning scheme area, covering about 413 hectares, is bounded by Mount Davis Road to the north and Pok Fu Lam Country Park to the east. The area extends to the waterfront to its south and west. 
 
     Pok Fu Lam is predominantly a residential area with the provision of a number of government, institution or community facilities.
 
     The approved OZP has incorporated amendments made to the draft OZP No. S/H10/18, which mainly involved the rezoning of a site adjacent to the Cyberport Arcade to "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated "Cyber-Port(1)" to facilitate the proposed Cyberport expansion, and rezoning of the existing Cyberport Waterfront Park to "Open Space" for enhancement of the park.  
 
     Other zonings shown on the OZP include "Commercial", "Residential (Group A)", "Residential (Group B)", "Residential (Group C)", "Village Type Development", "Government, Institution or Community", "OU" annotated "Cemetery", "OU" annotated "Cyber-Port", "OU" annotated "Petrol Filling Station", "Green Belt" and "Country Park".
 
     The approved Pok Fu Lam OZP No. S/H10/19 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 Southern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre.
 
     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 plan can be viewed at the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Ma Tau Kok Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). 

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Ma Tau Kok area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (January 15).

     The planning scheme area, covering about 139 hectares, is located in Central Kowloon within Kowloon City District and generally bounded by Tung Tau Tsuen Road to the north, To Kwa Wan Road/Yuk Yat Street to the east, San Lau Street to the south, and Tin Kwong Road to the west.

     Ma Tau Kok is predominately a residential area with the provision of government, institution or community facilities and public open space.

     The approved OZP has incorporated amendments made to the draft OZP No. S/K10/25, which mainly reflected the updated Master Schedule of Notes to Statutory Plans. An area replaced by the Urban Renewal Authority Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road Development Scheme Plan was also indicated on the OZP.

     The zonings shown on the OZP include "Commercial", "Comprehensive Development Area", "Residential (Group A)", "Residential (Group B)", "Residential (Group E)", "Government, Institution or Community", "Open Space", "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated "Sports and Recreation Club" and "OU" annotated "Commercial Development with Public Vehicle Park".

     The approved Ma Tau Kok OZP No. S/K10/26 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 Kowloon District Planning Office and the Kowloon City District Office.

     Copies of the approved plan 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 Town Planning Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 15) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming (see Note).

     Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).

Grade 1 beaches are:

     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: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that all gazetted beaches were closed from December 10, 2020, until further notice.

     The Government announced today (January 15) the following senior appointments:
 
(a) Miss Agnes Wong Tin-yu, Director of Marine, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Director of Housing on February 1, 2021. She will succeed Mr Donald Tong Chi-keung, who has commenced his pre-retirement leave;
 
(b) Ms Carol Yuen Siu-wai, Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries), will take up the post of Director of Marine on February 1, 2021;
 
(c) Ms Doris Ho Pui-ling, Deputy Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), will take up the post of Head, Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office on January 18, 2021; and
 
(d) Mr Kevin Siu Ka-yin, Deputy Commissioner of Rating and Valuation, will assume the post of Commissioner of Rating and Valuation on February 8, 2021, when Mr Choi Lap-yiu commences his pre-retirement leave.
 
     Commenting on the appointments of Miss Wong, Ms Yuen and Ms Ho, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "The three appointees are seasoned Administrative Officers with proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will serve the community with professionalism in their new capacities."
 
     Commenting on the appointment of Mr Siu, Mr Nip said, "Mr Siu has proven management and leadership skills, as well as rich professional knowledge and experience in rating and valuation work. I am confident that he will be able to lead the Rating and Valuation Department to meet the challenges ahead."
 
     On the retirement of Mr Tong, Mr Nip said, "Mr Tong has rendered 37 years of loyal and dedicated service to the community of Hong Kong. During his tenure as Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Director of Housing, he made commendable efforts in formulating and reviewing the Government's policies and strategies relating to the development of public and private housing. He made invaluable contributions in implementing the key aspects of the Long Term Housing Strategy, including ensuring the rational use of public housing resources and promoting good sales practices for private residential properties. I wish him a fulfilling and happy retirement."
 
     Speaking on the retirement of Mr Choi, Mr Nip said, "As Commissioner of Rating and Valuation, Mr Choi has served with professionalism and commitment, and made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and service quality of the Department. I wish him a fulfilling and happy retirement."
 
     Brief biographical notes of the six officers are set out below:
 
Mr Donald Tong Chi-keung
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     Mr Tong joined the Administrative Service in July 1987 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2018. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Transport Department, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, the former Environment and Food Bureau, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Home Affairs Bureau. He was Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, from October 2008 to February 2014, Commissioner for Labour from March 2014 to September 2016, Permanent Secretary for the Environment/Director of Environmental Protection from September 2016 to May 2019 and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Director of Housing since October 2019.
 

Miss Agnes Wong Tin-yu
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     Miss Wong joined the Administrative Service in November 1989 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2019. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Chief Secretary's Office, the former Trade Department, the former Industry Department, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Civil Service Bureau, the Home Affairs Department and the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office. She was Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Deputy Director of Housing (Strategy) from October 2012 to August 2017, Director-General of Communications from August 2017 to May 2019 and has been serving as Director of Marine since May 2019.

Ms Carol Yuen Siu-wai
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     Ms Yuen joined the Government in June 1986 as a Chinese Language Officer. She later joined the Administrative Service in June 1988 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2014. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the Civil Service Bureau, the Trade and Industry Department and the Security Bureau. She was Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce and Industry) from October 2012 to September 2016, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) from October 2016 to July 2019, and has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communication and Creative Industries) since May 2020.
 
Ms Doris Ho Pui-ling
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     Ms Ho joined the Administrative Service in August 1991 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2019. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Constitutional Affairs Bureau and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau. She was Deputy Director of Administration from January to March 2013, the Head of Policy and Project Co-ordination Unit from April 2013 to June 2017 and has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) since July 2017.

Mr Choi Lap-yiu
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     Mr Choi joined the Government as Student Rating and Valuation Surveyor in November 1984. He was appointed as Assistant Rating and Valuation Surveyor in February 1986, and promoted to Principal Valuation Surveyor in November 2004, to Assistant Commissioner of Rating and Valuation in July 2008 and to Deputy Commissioner of Rating and Valuation in July 2015. He has been Commissioner of Rating and Valuation since January 2019.
 
Mr Kevin Siu Ka-yin
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     Mr Siu joined the Government as Assistant Valuation Surveyor in December 1994. He was promoted to Principal Valuation Surveyor in August 2012, to Assistant Commissioner of Rating and Valuation in July 2016 and to Deputy Commissioner of Rating and Valuation in April 2020.