Two sites in Ting Kok amounting to a total of about 40.1 hectares have been zoned a "Site of Specific Scientific Interest", to conserve and sustain the natural habitat of mangroves near Ting Kok Village and Po Sam Pai Village as well as the Shuen Wan Egretry.

The Town Planning Board said the Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Ting Kok Outline Zoning Plan.

The planning scheme area, covering about 330 hectares of land, is located to the east of Tai Po New Town. It is bounded by Ting Kok Road in the east, the foothills of Pat Sin Leng in the north, Tung Tsz Road in the west and Sheun Wan Hoi in the south.

0.3 hectare of land zoned "residential"

The plan aims to conserve the natural environment and protect it from intensive urban development. Only about 0.3 hectare of land is zoned "Residential (Group C)" for low-rise, low-density residential development.

To meet the small house demand for indigenous villagers, about 69.8 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development".

To encourage the development of low-intensity recreation and tourism uses, about 2.2 hectares of land to the south of Lo Tsz Tin Village is zoned "Recreation".

To serve the needs of the local and district population, about 13.3 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" and 3.6 hectares of land are zoned "Open Space".

Outdoor Kuan Yin Statue to be built

Another 4.7 hectares of land to the north of San Tau Kok Village is zoned "Government, Institution or Community (1)" to facilitate a proposed religious institution with an outdoor Kuan Yin Statue and ancillary facilities.

About 63.9 hectares are zoned "Agriculture" and 92.3 hectares are"Green Belt". To retain the existing natural character or ecological features and the natural coastline, about 21.5 hectares are zoned "Conservation Area" and 70 hectares "Coastal Protection Area".