The Town Planning Board says it has no intention to delay consideration of the three rezoning requests made by the Society for Protection of the Harbour, Save Our Shorelines and Clear the Air.

The board today noted the processing of the three rezoning requests followed the board's established procedures - rezoning requests are submitted to the board for consideration about three months after receipt of such requests or after receipt of further information from the proponents.

Submission history

The Society for Protection of the Harbour and Save Our Shorelines submitted their rezoning requests in September and October last year, proposing to reduce the reclamation extent and amendments to various zonings on the Central District (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan.

Clear the Air also submitted in February a request for an amendment to the Central District (Extension) OZP and the Wan Chai North OZP by deleting the reclamation proposed under the Wan Chai Development Phase II from the two plans.

As the three rezoning requests were all related to the reclamation extent and the proposed Central-Wan Chai Bypass, the board on April 8 agreed to consider the three requests together at the same meeting.

The original date scheduled for submission of the three rezoning requests to the board was May 20, which would be within three months from receipt of Clear the Air's request and the further information last submitted by the Society for Protection of the Harbour and Save Our Shorelines in late February.

Legal advice sought

However, the Society for Protection of the Harbour requested last week that the board chairperson should declare an interest in its rezoning request and exclude herself from its consideration.

Given the importance of the issue and the possible implications on the board's procedures, the board is seeking legal advice.

The rezoning requests will be submitted to the board for consideration as soon as the legal advice is attained. All proponents have been informed of the reason for deferment.