New Outline Zoning Plan for Cheung Sheung gazetted

The planning scheme area, covering a total land area of about 18 hectares, is located at the centre of Sai Kung West Country Park, on an upland plateau about 300 metres above sea level, surrounded by ridges and spurs. It is a Priority Site for Enhanced Conservation under the New Nature Conservation Policy and is located within the upper indirect water gathering ground.

The general planning intention of the area is to protect its high conservation and landscape value which complements the overall naturalness and the landscape beauty of the surrounding country park. It is also intended to consolidate village development so as to avoid undesirable disturbance to the natural environment and overtaxing the limited infrastructure in the area.

About 0.03 hectares of land are zoned “Village Type Development” to designate both existing recognised village area and land considered suitable for village expansion.
To define the limits of urban and sub-urban development areas by natural features and to contain urban sprawl as well as to provide passive recreational outlets, about 13.7 hectares of land, comprising mainly woodlands, are zoned “Green Belt” to provide a buffer between the village-type developments and Sai Kung West Country Park, and conserve the natural and landscape character of the area. This zone also comprises the open grassland (including the playground) in front of the provision store, which has long been serving as a popular destination for hikers for rest.

About 4.27 hectares of land are zoned “Conservation Area” to protect and retain the existing natural landscape, ecological or topographical features of the area for conservation, educational and research purposes and to separate sensitive natural environment such as country park from the adverse effects of development. This zone largely covers the riparian zone of the Cheung Sheung Ecologically Important Stream where freshwater marshes and habitat of the Hong Kong paradise fish are found.