Sham Chung's rural character, unique landscape and cultural heritage will be preserved while land will be reserved for small house development by indigenous villagers, the Town Planning Board says.

Announcing the area's draft development plan today, the board said the draft covers a total area of about 32.4 hectares. It is bounded by the Sai Kung West Country Park in the north, east and south, and an embankment in the west. 

A total of 2.6 hectares of land is zoned "Village Type Development" to cover the recognised Sham Chung Village and areas of land suitable for village expansion.

About 8.3 hectares of low-lying flat land in the middle of the area is zoned "Agriculture" to retain and safeguard agricultural land, farm and fish ponds to retain fallow arable land for cultivation and other agricultural purposes.

Green belt

About 2.7 hectares is zoned "Green Belt" to define the limits of development areas by natural features and provide passive recreational outlets. This zone mainly includes areas subject to natural terrain hazards and is now occupied by ruins, vacant structures, vegetation and natural slopes.

About 16.1 hectares is zoned "Conservation Area" to protect and retain the natural landscape, ecological or topographical features of the area for conservation, education and research, and to separate the sensitive natural environment, such as the country park, from the adverse effects of development. 

The remaining 2.6 hectares to the east of the seawall is zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to protect and retain the coastlines and the sensitive coastal environment which contains three species of mangroves. 

The draft plan is available for public inspection during office hours until April 3 at:

* the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, 15/F North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road;

* the Planning Enquiry Counter, 17/F North Point Government Offices;

* the Planning Enquiry Counter, 14/F Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin;

* the Tai Po & North District Planning Office, 13/F Sha Tin Government Offices;

* the Tai Po District Office, Tai Po Government Offices Building, 1 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po; and,

* the Sai Kung North Rural Committee, 2 Yan Wo Lane, Yan Hing Street, Tai Po Market.

The public can make representation, stating the particular matter in the draft plan to which the representation relates, the nature of and reasons for the representation, and the amendments proposed to the draft plan, to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board.

Copies of the draft plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the board's website.