The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft San Tin Outline Zoning Plan, in which 75.8% of the land is zoned as green belt or conservation area to conserve the ecological value of wetlands and fish ponds.

The plan covers about 739.9 hectares of land, and is bounded by Tit Hang and Pak Shek Au in the east, San Tin Highway in the south, Mai Po San Tsuen in the west and Sham Chun River (Shenzhen He) in the north.

The Town Planning Board said about 172 hectares stretching from the Lok Ma Chau Control Point to Lin Barn Tsuen and lying to the north of Yan Shau Wai is zoned "Comprehensive Development & Wetland Enhancement Area" to conserve and enhance the ecological value and functions of the existing fish ponds or wetlands. Application for development or redevelopment is considered under a private-public partnership approach.

An area of about 17.1 hectares on the northern side of Castle Peak Road and to the northeast of Mai Po Lo Wai is zoned "Comprehensive Development to include Wetland Restoration Area" to provide incentive for the restoration of degraded wetlands adjoining existing fish ponds, and to help phase out sporadic open storage and port back-up uses on degraded wetlands.

About 183.1 hectares of land is zoned "Conservation Area" to conserve the ecological value of wetlands and fish ponds which form an integral part of the wetland ecosystem in the Deep Bay Area and function as a substantial food-supply source for birds and as an important habitat in which waterbirds roost and forage.

About 188.6 hectares of land located to the east of Mai Po Lo Wai, hilly areas at Tai Law Hau and its foothill areas surrounding Pun Uk Tsuen and Chau Tau are zoned "Green Belt".