Sheung Sze Wan
Sheung Sze Wan (SSW) residents have recently applied to the Town Planning Board for rezoning from “Village-type Development” to “Coastal Protection Area” for part of Hiu Po Path along the shoreline in the front of the village and the adjacent government land with an area of about 14,962 sq. ft. Residents have been fighting a battle for a number of years over the unauthorised development of tourist activities in the village. According to Chinese language media various government departments have been lax in implementing action against the illegal activities owing to pressure from local landowners.
According to the submission “The intention is to comprehensively reintroduce the statutory “CPA” intention back to SSW to enable planning protection, to curtail the worsening environmental damage and to reinstate the overall natural integrity of SSW Bay. The Rezoning Site, located along the SSW coastline, is currently zoned “V” on the Approved OZP, while the majority of lands surrounding the SSW Waterfront are zoned “CPA”.
“A natural inlet with waterbody connecting to Port Shelter, SSW is of moderate to high ecological value as a territory-wide important habitat for seagrass and with the presence of other species worthy of preservation. Unfortunately, SSW has suffered from cumulative negative impacts over the years, in particular with the recent proliferation of Unauthorised Commercial Uses, including Kayak Shops, in both “V” and “CPA” zones resulting in the degradation of the coastal character, environmental destruction, illegal landfilling, serious nuisances, sewage, rubbish and traffic congestion problems”.
“The unmitigated growth of unregulated commercial businesses catering to kayaking and other water-based recreation, dredging and land filling in the surrounding “CPA” calls for the urgent need for proper protection and planning control on this sensitive marine environment which the existing “V” zone is wholly unable to achieve. The proposed CPA zone will emphasise the need for conservation and protection, together with its presumption against development. This Rezoning Request is imperative as an Ecological Appraisal has established that the damaged seagrasses and rare ecology at SSW can recover and survive very well if the human disturbances in SSW and its vicinity could be avoided and/or controlled”.
Residents of SSW have been suffering from worsening noise, pollution, safety and hygiene problems caused by a growing number of alleged Unauthorised Uses and developments that have been occurring in and around SSW. Despite these uses operating from the “V” zone, they do not serve the needs of the villagers, do not support village development and, in most cases, do not comply with the Statutory Planning Framework nor have the requisite TPB Approvals”.
“The majority of the nuisance and degradation of the rural and tranquil character of SSW is caused by the unmitigated and growing operation of unauthorised uses including Kayak Shops, Dive Shops and Eateries (collectively described as “Non-Compliant Businesses”). In these same areas, frequent outdoor dining (barbeque) with sale of alcohol also occurs very late into the night causing extreme nuisance and distress to local residents. Other nuisances, such as illegal dumping of trash, occur in and in the vicinity of the Rezoning Site. The mooring together of over 900 kayaks in the SSW Bay causes intolerable noise, particularly at night as winds and waves increase in the cooler months”.
For further information of the TPB application go to: https://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/en/application_collection/Y_SK-CWBS_5/Y_SK-CWBS_5.html. Comments on the application should be made before 4 February 2022.
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