Town Planning Board rejects attempt by developers to expand V-zone at Pak Lap Village, Sai Kung

25 April 2021 rsbradbeer PLANNING 0

^{Pak Lap Village}

The Town Planning Board met on 23 March to discuss the change of use of the “V zone” in Pak Lak, Sai Kung. After a round of discussions, the Board did not accept developer’s and other individuals’ objection to the proposed reduction in the “V zone” area. The TPB proposed to change a 0.45 hectare plot of land outside Pak Lap Village in the “Pak Lap Outline Zoning Plan” from a “village-type development” zone to an “agricultural” zone. The V-zone was to be reduced in line with the 2017 judicial review that emphasised whether the “village-style development” zone reflects genuine needs.

^{The OZP amendment application referred to the cross-hatch area to the east of the existing village}

The Conservancy Association released a statement yesterday (24/4):

We and many conservation groups have revealed that the land in Pak Lap has been acquired by developers as early as 2013, so there is no real small house demand at all. We later searched 42 undeveloped lots in the V zone and found that, except for one that was held by a person surnamed Liu, all the other lots continued to be held by Master Mind Development Limited, a local development company. Looking back at the decision made by the Town Planning Board, it is finally the result of the conservation team’s efforts over the years to avoid the development of the rural environment.
In fact, Pak Lap is surrounded by Country Park on three sides, and buffer zones have to be reserved for villages and rivers. Although the 0.45 hectares of land is now zoned as “agricultural”, this does not provide adequate protection. The land should be zoned as “conservation area”.
However, the problems facing Pak Lap today seem to be more complicated. After years of land levelling, the environment in Pak Lap Village has been drastically changed. The recreational activities in and outside the village are diversified, and these activities affect Pak Lap even though it is adjacent to the countryside. We will continue to monitor the impact of the park. It also depends on everyone who clearly understands the past and present of this place and protects this back garden that belongs to the people of Hong Kong.